Some jogging and some sprinting, others jumping or throwing – it all adds up to another track and field season at White River High.

Once again under the tutelage of coach Jerry Scheidt, with help from a band of assistants, the Hornets break into competition Thursday with a home meet against the Steilacoom Sentinals.

Leading a young and largely inexperienced White River girls team is senior Brenna Liebel, who took her talents to the state’s biggest stage a season ago, running the 800-meter hurdles at the state Class 2A championships. She holds the White River record in the event.

On the plus side, the Hornet girls have more depth that in the past few seasons, Scheidt said.

Key performers in the distance races include Jenna Guenthner, Jayden Fletcher and Grace Clapshaw. Added to the distance mix are Courtney Gelmini and Hanna Swettenam, both veterans of the Hornet cross country program. In the throws, the team is looking primarily to Alexa Vogel; Kelsey Bunker will help in the javelin as well as sprints and relays. The jumping events are highlighted by Amanda Lance and Maci Goethals. Brianne Wiens could be a factor in both the jumps and throwing events.

Youth will be served in the sprints, hurdles and relays, now that Cassidy Kunst and Jade Crawfore have been lost to graduation. Freshman Annabelle Hall and Kate Mauldin “have great technique in the hurdles and look to push some of the freshman and school records in these events,” Scheidt said.

The White River boys team is both young and inexperienced, having lost nine seniors to graduation last spring.

The strength lies in the distance races with Alex Anderson, Seth Berryhill and Jaden Flanders. In the sprints it will be Hunter Hendricks, Lucas Selby and Luke Krenning. That trio is looking for a fourth runner to help in sprinting events and relays.

Throwers include Isaiah Walker and Noah Pearson in the shot and discus and Tyler Ussary in the javelin. Spencer Hall returns in the long and high jumps, following a strong freshman campaign, and will run the hurdles as well. In pole vault, the Hornets have David Wright as the only returner.

Some newcomers that may fill holes in the lineup, Scheidt said, are Garrett Severson in the sprints and jumps, Greg Pointek in the Pole Vault, Austin Aashiem in the javelin and Cole Tucker in the discus.