Brian Schwieterman returns as Bradford girls track and field coach.

Returning letterwinners include seniors Olivia Daugherty and Ashlyn Kaiser and juniors Olivia Michalke and Katelynne Clack.

Kaiser, Belle Burgett and Michalke will lead the sprinters, while Daugherty and Cheyeenne Buchanan lead the distance runners.

“Olivia (Daugherty) is our distance veteran and has been a great leader for our other distance runners,” Schwieterman said.

The top throwers include Clack, Brooke Phillips, Ryanna Kennedy and Taysa Felver.

“This season is all about growth,” Schwieterman said. “With missing last season a lot of our junior high and younger athletes missed on crucial track time. Our sprinters and throwers will set early marks to obtain their season goals.

“Our distance runners with the exception of Olivia Daughtery will be getting their feet wet with what distance looks like on the track. Oliviais our senior leader and has taken over the distance program. She has invested hours on and off the track learning the sport and workouts. I am looking forward to great things from Olivia.”

COVINGTON

Dave Tobias returns for his 21st season as coach.

Returning letterwinners include seniors Alyssa Kimmel, Kayla Mitchell and Ellery Reck.

The top sprinters will include Kimmel, freshman Carlie Besecker, Bryanna Kenworthy, Whitney Welch; and sophomores Madison Supinger, Eve Welborn, Summer Anderson and Lauren York.

The top distance runners will include sophomores Haley Hargrave, Teylor Meyer and Ella Remley and freshman Johanna Welborn and Ella White.

The throwers will include sophomores Jenna Belmaggio and Ali Gostomsky, while Mitchell and Remley will high jump, Besecker and Kimmel will long jump and Reck will pole vault.

“We are very young and underclassmen heavy with 11 athletes in grades nine and 10,” Tobias said. “It looks good for the future of Covington High School girls track and field. We are looking forward to having leadership from Alyssa Kimmel, Kayla Mitchell and Ellery Reck, our returning senior letterwinners.”

LEHMAN CATHOLIC

Dwane Rowley returns as coach.

Senior Lindsey Magoteaux will lead the sprinters (100, 200, relays, long jump) after podium finishes at the state meet as a freshman and stophomore.

Junior Kierstan Franklin has been a state participant and podium finisher and sophomore Ella Black is another top sprinter.

Key middle-distance runners will be freshman Eva Dexter (relays, 400, 800), sophomore Caroline Wesner (400, 800, relays) and junior Colleen O’Leary (400, 800, relays).

Leading the distance runners will be juniors Agnes Schmiesing (800, 1,600, relays) and Maggie Bezy (1,600, 3,200).

The top field athletes will be freshman Daria Lee (hurdles, high jump) and Mara O’Leary (high jump, hurdles, relay).

“Our goals are to win the NWCC title, contend for district and regional titles, and to qualify for state tournament with the goal of finishing high on the podium,” Rowley said. “We want them to compete and work to get better each week. We have young, inexperienced team due to not having season last year. We are looking to upperclassmen for leadership and to be competitive.”

MIAMI EAST

Preston Elifritz returns as coach.

Returning letterwinners include seniors Bridget Paton and Cadence Gross and juniors Paxton Hunley and Grace Lawson.

A deep sprint group will be led by seniors Layla Vargas, Rori Hunley and Cassidy Walker; junior Paxton Hunley and sophomore Anna Rowley.

The hurdlers include Lawson and sophomore Lindi Snodgrass, while the distance runners include junior Kyley Davie and sophomores Kinley Lavender and Kendal Staley.

Sophomore Anika Paton is the top thrower and the top jumpers are high jumper Kylee McKinney and pole vaulter Bridget Paton.

“Without a 2020 season we have a lot of unknowns,” Elifritz said. “Graduation hit us hard, but there is a ton of promising, young talent. Our season will go with our senior leadership. The final CC championship is up for grabs with a pretty even conference.”

MILTON-UNION

Michael Meredith returns as coach.

The Bulldogs won the SWBL title in 2018 and 2019.

Returning letterwinners are seniors Morgan Grudich, a state placer in the long jump in 2019 and Madelyn Johnson, a four-even SWBL champ in 2019.

Seniors Johnson and Grudich and sophomores Annie Smith and Kami Schatz lead the sprinters.

The top distance runners include junior Maddie Slasiack, freshman Ty Parsons and senior Micah Tracy.

Milton has a young group of pole vaulters and senior Emily Barker.

“We have a mix of upperclassmen talent that will need to lead a large crew of young athletes that haven’t got a lot of experience,” Meredith said.

NEWTON

Nick Rhoades returns as Newton coach.

Top returners for the Indians are senior Rylie Resides and Natalee Carling and junior McKenna Downing.

“Rylie Resides *pole vault/sprints) has been jumping this winter and is ready to have a big seniors season,” Rhoades said. “She was a district placer two years ago. McKenna Downing (distance) is maybe the hardest working kid on the team and returning most valuable runners from two years ago. Natalee Carlin is the shot put record holder and district placer from two years ago.”

Rhoades says the girls team is coming together.

“The girls’ team numbers are down from how we started last year’s season, but they have seem to gelled as a team,” he said. “I am excited about the first year runners and to see some of the upperclassmen develop throughout the season. This group has the chance to send multiple girls to regionals, if they continue to work hard and put the work in.”

PIQUA

Travis Nees takes over as Piqua girls track and field coach.

The Lady Indians will be led by junior sprinter Camilla Nicholas, who placed eighth in the D-I state 400-meter race as a freshman.

Other returning letterwinners include seniors Whitney Evans, Colleen Cox and Kathrine Hanes and juniors Cassie Schrubb and Aubree Schrubb.

The top sprinters joining Nicholas are Laurynn Barr, Evans, Lilyn Abzell and Cox, while Cassie Schrubb will lead the distance runners.

The top throwers will be Hanes, Izzy King and Madi Bolin, while the top jumpers will be Aubree Schribb and Libby Bradney, with Cox pole vaulting.

“We are looking forward to getting back on the track and competing this spring after a great off-season,” Nees said.

TROY CHRISTIAN

Jeff McDaniel returns as coach.

“We have such a different team this year after last years cancelled season,” McDaniel said. “We have 17 girls out which is the normal size of both boys and girls teams. We also lost five seniors from last year’s team so we are left with only three returning letter winners in junior Lydia Carroll, sophomore Za’Nia Green, and senior Kate Townsend. We pretty much have a whole new team.”

The Eagles have a number of sprinters

“Both Lydia and Hope Carroll have experience in the short races but this year they will be receiving support from freshmen Jillian Gerig, Kyndle Scales and Eleanah Streeter, and sophomore Meghan Swartz.

Green returns to run middle distance and is joined by freshman Abigail Twiss.

“Our distance runners are both new to Troy Christian track but are not new to competing,” McDaniel said. “Junior Anna Davis is one of our outstanding soccer players and sophomore Mackenzie Rougie had a great cross country season will be leading our distance squad and we are looking forward to even having a 3,200M relay team.”

Senior Katie Townsend will be throwing the shot and discus and she will be joined by Trinity Voiland.

“We will be competing with Legacy Christian, Dayton Christian, and Emanuel Christian for our last year in the Metro Buckeye Conference,” McDaniel said. “We anticipate a very competitive league meet.

“We have many new runners and they will be learning a lot about their abilities and their ability to push hard to meet individual goals. Our experienced runners have sights set on breaking personal records and school records.”