Cross country stars boost track team
Published 2:04 pm Monday, March 22, 2010
By John Leggett
Staff Writer
Although Sumner High’s track team will be without the services of distance threat Hillary Norris, who burned up the track in the 1,600 and 3,200 meter events at state in her senior campaign, it will still have plenty of talent to fall back on this spring.
Several of this year’s cross country runners have chosen to run in shorter events as only senior Stefani Castile will be carrying the torch left behind by Norris in the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter events.
Senior Ashlee Sincraugh, who has excelled in cross country since her freshman debut, has chosen to go after new challenges in the shorter distances during her senior swan song. Sincraugh, who placed at state in the 400 during her junior campaign, will be representing the Spartans in that event as well as the 800 meter and possibly the 4×400 relay along with teammates Tesa Hansen, Leah Dedomines and junior Loren Bulzomi.
Hurdlers this season for the purple and gold will be seniors Jackie Tomlin and Kaylee Holloway. Holloway has been a soccer star for Sumner since her freshman season, but just missed qualifying for state in the 100 high hurdles and 300 intermediate hurdles last season.
Featured prominently in the field events will be a half dozen seniors, beginning with shot putters Veronica Carnahan and Kayla Roberts, who carried the Sumner High standard at the state meet in 2009. Additionally, performing in the high jump event will be a trio of seniors in Hansen, Courtney Perkins and Jessica Vandergiesen. The versatile Vandergiesen will also be specializing in the triple jump and high jump.
Last but certainly not least will be sophomore Michaela Trulson, who placed last year in the state show in the pole vault.
On the boys side, there will be plenty of fresh faces on the scene.
The youngest of these will be freshman distance runner Lorenzo Testa-Parker, who shows potential in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meters, according to coach Kristin Martin. Also running the distance events will be tried and true junior Jobe Layton, sophomores Reid Selmer and Cory Brandt and finally senior Ryan Daigle, who is being welcomed to the Sumner track and field fold for his first try.
The speed merchants for Sumner this season appear to be seniors Kevin Johnson, Zack Williams, Alex Bricker and Andre Sloan.
In the field events there will be a foursome vying for the highest heights in pole vaulting seniors Kevin Johnson and Grant Stevens as well as sophomores Jonoah Lenz and Michael Smith.
Putting the heavy iron ball and spinning the discus will be senior gridiron standout Alex Griffith, who has already signed a letter of intent to play football for Central Washington University after graduating in June. Fellow upperclassman Seth Rodgriguez will be handling the javelin throwing chores.
Hurdlers and jumpers will be few and far between among the boys ranks this year as the majority of them graduated last year, but Kevin Johnson and sophomore Cody Johnson remain.
