With the big name stars of the Sumner High track and field galaxy having graduated, the understudies should fare quite well in the newly configured South Puget Sound League 2A.

Sumner still has a number of outstanding girl and boy distance runners as was in evidence at the WIAA regional cross country meet at American Lake last season.

Returning for the Sumner girls in the distance events will be senior Kendra Jansson, junior veteran Gabby DeGoede and junior newcomer Megan Bodus as well as sophomore distance threat Natasha Wilson.

Others gleaning points for the SHS girls side of things will be freshman Cate Richardson as well as senior Lauren Bulzomi and junior Leah DeDominces, who both played vital roles in putting together a state qualifying 4×400 time as well as a Sumner High School record in 2010.

Sumner girls coach Kristin Martin believes some new faces – sophomore Kaylee Rozell and promising freshmen Kelsie Colman, Amanda Riley and McKenna Woodworth – will fill an existing void.

“This is a rebuilding year for the Lady Sparts, as we lost quite a few veteran athletes to graduation,” Martin said. “I am looking forward to seeing how we are going to stack up in the new alignment of the 2A classification.”

Returning in the field events are senior Veronica Carnahan in the shot put, Katrina Carter in the discus and Michaela Trulson and Samantha Andrada in the pole vault. Another threesome of seniors to keep an eye on will be Leah Engelhardt and Leia Fecteau in the triple and long jumps as well as Courtney Perkins in the high jump.

The Spartans’ season officially begins with a three-way meet March 23 at Sunset Chev Stadium.