2013 Preview: Hillsboro Track and Field
Lead Summary
By
STEPHEN FORSHA and CAITLIN RYAN-
Despite losing key members of their 2012 South Central Ohio League champion team and dealing with an unseasonably cold offseason, the Hillsboro High School track team is prepared to defend their title as leaders of the South Central Ohio League.
Returning to the team is senior state placer Jarrod Hart, who finished sixth in the 800-meter run at the Division II 2012 OHSAA State Track and Field Championships as well as being district, regional and league champion in the event. Hart also competes in the 1600m run and the 3200 relay.
"It does help having someone like Jarrod Hart, but he's only allowed four events," Hillsboro boys track and field head coach Bud Marsh said. "He's one of the fastest kids on the team. He could probably be the top 400m person in the area … he's already the top 800m and 1600m."
Also competing is DeAndre Steward, a sophomore who won the SCOL cross-country championship in October. Steward will be running the 1600m and 3200m.
"We look for good things out of him," Marsh said.
Marsh spoke of other members of this year's team who are showing potential.
"Joe Beery, a senior, has made great strides in improving," Marsh said. "He's really worked hard over the summer and had a good cross-country season."
Marsh said that Nathan Boone (1600m, 3200m) and Conner Ernst (800m, 1600m) are also expected to perform well in distance events.
In the field events, returning is senior Jordan O'Connor, the defending long jump champion. In addition to long jump, O'Connor will participate in the 100m, 200m and a relay team, which Marsh said they have not yet selected.
Marsh also expects good results from pole vaulters Paul Burton and Garrett Baldridge.
"They were our second and third, but sometimes first, top vaulters last year," Marsh said. "They came on late last year, and they'll help tremendously."
Marsh said they are still looking for a contender for the high jump and that they are "light on throwers," but among the shot put and discus challengers this year are Trey Burns, Zach Brown and Todd Adkins.
While the team has 29 members, the unpredictable weather has made it difficult to establish roles on the team.
"We've only been on the track four times," Marsh said. "We lost some sprinters and are looking for freshmen to step up. We've got to replace hurdlers.
"We've got experience, but overall, we're fairly young and inexperienced in a lot of areas. We've got some holes to fill. It's really tough to see who steps up when you can't get on the track."
Marsh and the defending SCOL champs will look to their senior leaders to help the team find success as the season progresses.
"You're not going to find a better group than our seniors," Marsh said. "They are hard workers who all lead by example. Some are vocal, some lead by example.
"You don't have to worry about them not doing workouts. They keep each other honest. This is one of the hardest-working group of kids we've had."
The HHS track team will face schools from the Scioto Valley Conference to start the season as they will travel to the Zane Trace Invitational next Thursday, April 4.
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For the Lady Indians girls track team, they return three state qualifiers, coming off an SCOL third-place finish.
"We have 38 girls on the team this year, but we are dealing with injuries right now, so we are trying to sort that out," HHS girls track coach Sarah Horsley said.
Returning state qualifiers are Autumn Hacker, Brittany Ferrell and Megan Overberg, who were a part of the 4x400m relay team, while Hacker was also a state qualifier in the 400m run.
"With Autumn, she has an injury right now, so we're not sure what's wrong, so we are checking that out," Horsley said. "Brittany has been running in the offseason, and we are hoping for more success.
"Megan ran indoor track, and we are hoping for another good season."
Others who will be looked at for the success of the girls track season include Ali Goolsby (hurdles/relays).
"Ali will be more involved with relays this year," Horsley said. "This year, we've lost some sprinters, so we'll need Ali in some more events."
HHS has a good freshman class as well.
"One of our top freshmen is Reaghan Haines," Horsley said. "She won in cross-country, and she'll be a great distance runner for us. She runs with Brittany right now, and they help each other. They both are very eager to get things started.
"As for the group, we'll have to pick out some sprinters. We have good distance runners, but again, we lost a lost of sprinters, and we have to try to find good replacements. I feel we can do that with our freshman group."
Horsley spoke about the expectations of the team.
"In the field events, Haines will be our pole vaulter and Ceairra Neal will be at long jump," she said. "I would like to get girls back to the state meet. Also, I want to see more regional qualifiers, and winning the league is always a goal of ours."
Returning to the team is senior state placer Jarrod Hart, who finished sixth in the 800-meter run at the Division II 2012 OHSAA State Track and Field Championships as well as being district, regional and league champion in the event. Hart also competes in the 1600m run and the 3200 relay.
"It does help having someone like Jarrod Hart, but he's only allowed four events," Hillsboro boys track and field head coach Bud Marsh said. "He's one of the fastest kids on the team. He could probably be the top 400m person in the area … he's already the top 800m and 1600m."
Also competing is DeAndre Steward, a sophomore who won the SCOL cross-country championship in October. Steward will be running the 1600m and 3200m.
"We look for good things out of him," Marsh said.
Marsh spoke of other members of this year's team who are showing potential.
"Joe Beery, a senior, has made great strides in improving," Marsh said. "He's really worked hard over the summer and had a good cross-country season."
Marsh said that Nathan Boone (1600m, 3200m) and Conner Ernst (800m, 1600m) are also expected to perform well in distance events.
In the field events, returning is senior Jordan O'Connor, the defending long jump champion. In addition to long jump, O'Connor will participate in the 100m, 200m and a relay team, which Marsh said they have not yet selected.
Marsh also expects good results from pole vaulters Paul Burton and Garrett Baldridge.
"They were our second and third, but sometimes first, top vaulters last year," Marsh said. "They came on late last year, and they'll help tremendously."
Marsh said they are still looking for a contender for the high jump and that they are "light on throwers," but among the shot put and discus challengers this year are Trey Burns, Zach Brown and Todd Adkins.
While the team has 29 members, the unpredictable weather has made it difficult to establish roles on the team.
"We've only been on the track four times," Marsh said. "We lost some sprinters and are looking for freshmen to step up. We've got to replace hurdlers.
"We've got experience, but overall, we're fairly young and inexperienced in a lot of areas. We've got some holes to fill. It's really tough to see who steps up when you can't get on the track."
Marsh and the defending SCOL champs will look to their senior leaders to help the team find success as the season progresses.
"You're not going to find a better group than our seniors," Marsh said. "They are hard workers who all lead by example. Some are vocal, some lead by example.
"You don't have to worry about them not doing workouts. They keep each other honest. This is one of the hardest-working group of kids we've had."
The HHS track team will face schools from the Scioto Valley Conference to start the season as they will travel to the Zane Trace Invitational next Thursday, April 4.
- - - - - -[[In-content Ad]]
For the Lady Indians girls track team, they return three state qualifiers, coming off an SCOL third-place finish.
"We have 38 girls on the team this year, but we are dealing with injuries right now, so we are trying to sort that out," HHS girls track coach Sarah Horsley said.
Returning state qualifiers are Autumn Hacker, Brittany Ferrell and Megan Overberg, who were a part of the 4x400m relay team, while Hacker was also a state qualifier in the 400m run.
"With Autumn, she has an injury right now, so we're not sure what's wrong, so we are checking that out," Horsley said. "Brittany has been running in the offseason, and we are hoping for more success.
"Megan ran indoor track, and we are hoping for another good season."
Others who will be looked at for the success of the girls track season include Ali Goolsby (hurdles/relays).
"Ali will be more involved with relays this year," Horsley said. "This year, we've lost some sprinters, so we'll need Ali in some more events."
HHS has a good freshman class as well.
"One of our top freshmen is Reaghan Haines," Horsley said. "She won in cross-country, and she'll be a great distance runner for us. She runs with Brittany right now, and they help each other. They both are very eager to get things started.
"As for the group, we'll have to pick out some sprinters. We have good distance runners, but again, we lost a lost of sprinters, and we have to try to find good replacements. I feel we can do that with our freshman group."
Horsley spoke about the expectations of the team.
"In the field events, Haines will be our pole vaulter and Ceairra Neal will be at long jump," she said. "I would like to get girls back to the state meet. Also, I want to see more regional qualifiers, and winning the league is always a goal of ours."