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By SETH STASKEY
Times Leader Sports Editor
BARNESVILLE -- The Barnesville track and field teams put forth solid 2021 seasons in their return to the oval after the COVID-missed season.
Now both Mark Brown's girls team and Dylan Rogers' boys teams are looking to take the next step.
GIRLS
The Shamrock girls are coming off a season in which they finished second in the OVAC and Eastern District while qualifying to the state meet in three events.
"We have strengths in distance and in the field, but we have many young sprinters and hurdlers that we're not sure what to expect," Brown said.
Leading the list of returnees is senior thrower Anna Yater, who qualified to the state meet at Westerville North in both the shot put and discus last season. She finished 10th in the shot and 12th in the discus. She's already signed to continue her throwing career at the University of Dayton.
On the track, sophomore Marah Bethel qualified to the state in the 800 meter run, placing 15th.
Other distance runners to watch are Aubrey Johnson, Emma Helmick, Jordyn Strous and Delana Jenkins.
Other juniors looking to contribute are Haley Bell (sprints), Britnee Cassidy (sprints), Hannah Leach (throws), Halle Markovich (hurdles, high jump), Halle Ralston (sprints) and Mia Yee (sprints).
Sophomores on the squad are Cheyenne Brudzinski (sprints), Alivia Campbell (sprints, jumps), Taylor Crooks (throws), Zoey Hickenbottom (sprints), Cali Lee (distance), Kylie Moore (hurdles, jumps), Madison Winters (sprints) and Ayla Yater (sprints, hurdles, middle distance).
Set for their rookie season of varsity track are Zoey Fritter (sprints), Lexi Grear (sprints, hurdles), Kourtnie Keiser (sprints), Addyson Moore (sprints), Ava Sobutka (sprints, pole vault) and Grace Starr (middle distance).
The Shamrocks put forth a solid season in 2021, but as Dylan Rogers begins his 12th season, he likes a lot of aspects of his team.
"We have a good mix of distance, sprinters, jumpers and throwers," Rogers said. "We have 38 kids out for the team which provides great depth. Of those, we have 10 returning lettermen and kids are really going to have to compete to earn a top two spot in their respective events."
Leading the way for the Shamrocks is distance ace Tyler Jenkins. The Rio Grande commit is coming off an impressive cross season and placed fourth at the State Indoor meet in the 3200.
Freshman Conner Starr will be one to keep an eye on in the longer distance races.
In the middle distances, juniors Julian Beccera and Vincent Phillips lead the way.
OVAC placer Cooper Bell returns in the high and intermediate hurdles and he'll be joined there by Luke Detling, who is new to the sport.
In the sprints, senior Caiden Thornton is in the mix with Connor Warrington and Logan Dodd shifting to the sprint events from middle distance.
In the field, junior Brayden Galloway and sophomore Gideon Hulbert are set to pole vault, while Bell will take part in the high jump.
Throwers to keep an eye on are Avery Clouse in the discus along with seniors Connor Jones, Arick Clark and Ethan Spangenburg.
Other seniors looking to make an impact are Orion Smith (sprints), Jacob Webb (distance), Cayden Lough (sprints), Jude Hannahs (distance).
The balance of juniors includes: Jordon Smith (sprints), Brock Burkhart (throws), Robby Nixon (sprints), Jerney Fox (distance), Kellen Dornon (middle distance).
Sophomores are Brady Drake (distance), Jack Phillips (sprints) and Jacob Smith (throws).
A large freshmen class includes: Eli Messenger (PV, hurdles), Evan Lough (jumps, sprints), Aden Zumock (sprints), Bode Carpenter (sprints), Macguire Clouse (throws), Montgomery Evans (throws), Blake Kirk (throws), Landon Lucas (throws), Shepherd Richey (distance) and Luke Taylor (sprints).
Rogers and Brown share a coaching staff including: Melissa Dodd, Nathan Smith, Ryan Grear, Wesley Lewis, Sheila McFarland and Brian Grear.