Warriors return four state qualifiers, add nine freshmen

With four state qualifiers on the squad, the WACO girls? track and field team has some talent returning this season.

Seniors Madison Roth and Brooke Hammond, along with junior Sara Conwell, were three of the four runners on last year?s state-qualifying 4x800-meter relay team.

Sophomore Rosemary Skriver also returns this season after qualifying for state in the high jump last year as a freshman.

?The ... team will be talented in the middle distance events and the high jump, with (those) four girls returning after competing in last year?s state meet,? Coach Rick Moorman said.

The team welcomes back seven other returning letterwinners: senior Mariah Jepson, junor Morgan Dugger, and sophomores Katelyn White, Kaila Leichty, Jordan Rodgers, Tympest Crawford and Jaelyn Unternahrer.

The returners have most of the events covered, giving the Warriors some experience in every area: Rodgers joins the middle-distance group, Jepson is a thrower; Crawford is a hurdler; Leiehty does jumps; Dugger, White and Unternahrer are sprinters.

The team is filled out by nine freshmen. Many of these newcomers are expected to play a key role this season, Moorman said.

Jalyssa Jepson and Erika Leichty will participate in hurdles and relays, while Aaliyah Brown and Kaylie Horak will be sprinters. Jennie Greene is a middle-distance runner who will also be in relays, and Gaby Wagler will cover the distance races. Emma Eubanks, Leah McElhinney and Kalicia Miller are throwers.

Overall, the WACO girls have each event covered, but some need more work than others.

?The throws and hurdle events show promise, and the sprint events will need to continue to improve and be more consistent in scoring points,? Moorman said.