Girls Track: Rich tradition continues

Nadia Lorencz 2012 state long jump and 100-meter hurdles champion (photo by Jim Lindquist)

In 2011 Tigers finished fourth at the Class AA state meet. Last spring they tied for fourth with Hopkins. This year they have the potential to move even further up the rankings.

"We hope  to challenge for the conference title and qualify for the True Team state meet," coach Tom Hart said. "We came up a little short last year.

"In the section we will get to compete against the state's best.  If we can do well there, we will fare well at the state meet. One of our goals is to finish in top three this year."

One reason for Hart's optimism is his team's depth. The Tigers lost a handful of point-scorers to graduation, including four-time state meet qualifier Alyssa Parco, but more than 30 veterans return from last year's squad.

Michigan State recruit Nadia Lorencz, a state champion in both the long jump and 100-meter hurdles last spring, leads the list of returning seniors. Maria Kiminski, who ran in the state meet as a sophomore, is also back after missing most of last season with a leg injury.

Other seniors include Shelby Doherty, Alex Frost, Courtney Johnston, Callie Kittelson, Kelsey Lindell, April Morris, Victoria Oettinger, Jennifer Redepenning and Taylor Schmaltz.

Isabelle Ferm 2012 Missota Conference 400-meter champion (photo by Jim Lindquist)

Isabelle Ferm, 2012 Missota Conference 400-meter champion and point-scorer in three events at state, heads up a solid junior class.

Other junior returnees include Kathryn Beckett, Corale Cobb, Kelli Elmer, Itzell Flores, Aly Grebner, Emma Hall, Nicole Knoepke, Emily Lathrop, Kenya Macias, Maricia Pacheco and Hannah Seitzinger.

Two sophomores with state meet experience, Megan Graham and Alicia Hett, return as do classmates Kali Andriano-Allard, Sydney Bockelman, Madison Bowe, Sarah Cummings, Alexis Johnson, Kalli Opsal, Destiny Schmitz and Jordan Walls. Freshman Jennifer Miller is also back for a second season with the varsity team.

Sophomore  cross-country runner Sofia Chadwick joins the team this spring along with juniors Morgan Cecchettini and Kenya Macias and sophomores Nicole Doran and Ashley Ellefson.

"We have many state meet participants from a year ago who are hungry and want more," Hart said.
"Many of them trained hard in the off season and the results are evident.

"We hope to build on last year's successes and add to them. Our numbers are pretty good and that should help in our depth in the running events."

If there is one area of concern for the 2013 Tigers it is in the throwing department.

"We need more throwers" Hart said. "That's where we are the thinnest."

Hart picked Chanhassen, Northfield and Shakopee as the three biggest obstacles to his team's winning its first-ever Missota Conference championship. Lakeville North and Lakeville South appear to be the pre-season picks for Section 1AA honors.

This year's assistant coaching staff includes Lisa Lippold, distance; Joe McCarthy, middle distance; Maggie Endersbe, hurdles and sprints; Julian Buss, pole vault; Justyn Helgeson, throws; Torrian Amie, horizontal jumps and Vicki Lippert, high jump.

Heidi Revels, Al Jenrich, Rob Virgin and Jake Bauer will coach the middle school teams.