Girls track and field preview

Outlandish as it sounds, Tori Jackson has put herself in the unusual position of chasing herself for the next three track and field seasons.

Among the Whiteland sophomore’s many accomplishments last spring in her first varsity season was taking ownership of the school standard in the 800-meter run with a time of 2 minutes, 18.17 seconds.

Jackson clocked that time while finishing 13th at the state meet at Ben Davis. That race, coupled with helping the Warriors to a 19th-place finish in the 4×800 relay, gave her a valuable sampling of the big stage and what she needs to do in order for her career to continue its ascent.

“The goal is to hopefully make the podium at state, and to PR, obviously,” said Jackson, part of a Whiteland squad that opens its outdoor season Monday with a dual meet at Edgewood. “I would like to be able to be in the 2:15s or 2:16s this season in the 800. It’s definitely a race where you have to be mentally tough.

“I chose this event because I love the challenge and I meet a lot of new people. There’s a lot of adrenaline when you get to the start-finish line before the race.”

Truth be known, Jackson could be experiencing the same rush in a number of any events during the course of a meet.

Whiteland coach Brandon Bangel will determine the races she runs this spring based on the importance of a meet. Jackson is that versatile.

Just know the 800 will always be on her to-do list.

“Honestly, Tori has such good range that she’ll probably run the 1,600, the 400 and the 800 depending on the meet and what we need her to do,” said Bangel, who can also implement her skills in the two distance relays. “Heck, she could probably run the 200. She’s got the gear.

“But I still think the 800 is Tori’s niche. She likes it the best, but obviously, that can change over time.”

Prerequisites of excelling in the 800 are, according to Bangel, speed, strength and toughness. Jackson, he feels, possesses all three, giving her the ability to either maintain the lead or move closer to the front during the muscles- and lung-burning waning stages of the second lap.

Confidence plays a role as well.

Jackson, who is coming off a cross country season in which she finished third at sectional, first at regional and barely missed the state finals after taking 26th at the Shelbyville Semistate (19:21.1), doesn’t lack in that area.

“It gave me more confidence that if I can do this in cross country, I can do a lot more in track because track is more my strength,” Jackson said.

Whiteland’s home opener is Wednesday against Roncalli and Mooresville.

“We are hoping for Tori to make it to the podium at the state meet,” Bangel said. “We think she can go 2:15 or better in the 800.”

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SCOUTING THE COUNTY 

Center Grove Trojans 

Coach: Wes Dodson 

Last season: Won county, sectional and regional titles; tied for seventh at state meet 

Key returnees: Kylie Crum, Bella Hodges, Skyler Sichting and Lauren Todd, seniors; Emmie Brown, Kate Henselmeier, Molly Tapak and Shelby Wingler, juniors; Lilly Brunsman, Madi Kramer, Kristen Lavergne, Gracie Livingston, Liz Madden, Lara Phipps and Carolyne Schott, sophomores 

Top newcomers: Suhk Chahal, Diana Hodges, Hallie Mimbella, Marissa Pogue, Alana Riley, Emerson Vlcan and Khloie Walker, freshmen 

Outlook: An impressive postseason run has Dodson excited for the weeks ahead as the Trojans again look to heat up as the weather becomes warmer. 

“We are extremely excited about this year’s team. We are coming off probably the best team in school history, and we have a lot of girls back who qualified for the state finals last year,” Dodson said. “Bella Hodges placed eighth in the 800 and Shelby Wingler was sixth in shot put and eighth in discus. Kate Henselmeier qualified in the 400 and Skyler Sichting returns from qualifying in the 100 hurdles. Madi Kramer qualified in the 200 and Kristen Lavergne, Skyler and Madi ran in our 4×100 relay that qualified. 

“We won both the sectional and regional last year, but both were very close with Columbus North. We will again shoot to repeat as sectional, regional and county champs. With all the state meet experience we have back, we are really excited to see what we can do this year.” 

Edinburgh Lancers 

Coach: Amy Schilling 

Newcomers: Alanna Hobbs, sophomore; Shyleigh Goble, freshman 

Outlook: Goble is expected to represent the Lancers as a sprinter, while Hobbs does so in the shot put and discus. 

Franklin Grizzly Cubs 

Coach: Ray Lane 

Last season: Third at Mid-State Conference meet; fourth at sectional, seventh at regional 

Key returnees: Macy Doublin, Sabina Garcia, Alyssa Henderson, Olivia Nicoloff and Emmaly Taylor, seniors; Brooke Coffman, Abby Demaree, Alyson Garrison, Morgan Sandrock, Amelia Tisdale and Eran Treibic, juniors; Emma Bertel, Lauren Klem, Hailey Stewart and Sydney Woodward, sophomores 

Key newcomers: Ainsley Botkin, Kathleen Lacy and Aubrey Runyon, freshmen 

Outlook: Klem, who placed 17th at state in the 1,600-meter run, is the foundation of a talented group of athletes that aspires for improved showings come the conference and postseason meets. 

“I think we’re going to be a pretty balanced team this season. We return varsity performers from last year in every event except pole vault,” Lane said. “Lauren Klem was a state finalist last year and high jump conference champion Brooke Coffman has already jumped higher indoors than she did last season when a hip injury in the last meet of the regular season kept her out of the state tournament. We’ve got a solid group of freshmen that could play a key role in our success late in the season. We’re hoping to be in position to challenge for a conference championship.” 

Greenwood Woodmen 

Coach: Blaine Williams 

Last season: Seventh at Mid-State Conference meet; sixth at sectional 

Top returnees: Quinn Kelly and Selena Piñon, seniors; Lily Hommell, junior; Amy Luttrell and Ellie Irwin, sophomores 

Key newcomers: Makena Cruse, Olivia Ford, Emma Gardner and Keyara Johnson, freshmen 

Outlook: “This is an underclass-heavy team with freshmen and sophomores outnumbering upperclassmen 2 to 1,” Williams said. “The good news is that some of our younger kids, like Amy Luttrell and Ellie Irwin, were at or near the top of our stat sheet all last season. They’re only going to get better and have their sights set on competing in June. 

“Quinn Kelly and Selena Piñon are exactly the kinds of kids you want to lead your team — they’ve both grown up into outstanding young women who we are going to miss dearly when this season ends. We have seven freshman throwers who are improving so much every day, and I can’t wait to see where they end up as well.” 

Greenwood Christian Cougars 

Coach: Sean Branch 

Key returnees: Kirsten Carlson and Whitney Smith, seniors; Evie Eldridge and Hannah Winn, juniors; Izzy Cameron, sophomore 

Key newcomers: Danielle McLaughlin and Olivia Miller, freshmen 

Outlook: Branch, who returns to lead the team after a one-year hiatus, says the Cougars are focused on improving and supporting each other as a unified team. GCA looks forward to scoring well in the conference meet and sending more athletes back to the regional. 

Indian Creek Braves 

Coach: Brady Devine 

Last season: Third at Western Indiana Conference meet 

Key returnees: Kaitlyn DeHart, Jada Flora, Paxton Marshall and Amanda Ulerick, seniors; Paige Iaria and Tarra Turnmire, juniors; Courtney Cox, Phoebe Dowty, Molly Margison, Gracee Meredith, Hannah Seitzinger and Ella Taylor, sophomores 

Key newcomers: Samuela Grosso, senior; Layla Emberton, freshman 

Outlook: “It’s a very young and talented group. The distance side is stronger than it ever has been, led by Paige Iaria, Samuela Grosso, Ella Taylor and Phoebe Dowty,” Devine said. “Jada Flora and Tarra Turnmire in the shot put and discus will be huge for us this year as a team, scoring a lot of points. 

Devine expects to Taylor to be a jack of all trades, also picking up points in jumps, hurdles and middle distance. Margison, Meredith, Emerton and DeHart figure to lead the sprint contingent. Overall, the Braves are a very young team that hopes to be peaking at season’s end. 

Whiteland Warriors 

Coach: Brandon Bangel 

Last season: Mid-State Conference runner-up; third at sectional, fourth at regional, tied for 13th at state meet 

Key returnees: Drew Mallory, senior; Amelia Edens, Brooklyn Franklin and Melia Marlin, juniors; Emma Gill and Tori Jackson, sophomores 

Newcomers: Tatayana Olivier, junior; Sidney Rodgers, sophomore; Addison Emberton and Bella Fuentes, freshmen 

Outlook: The return of Jackson, the 13th-place finisher at state in the 800 as a ninth-grader last spring, gives the Warriors plenty of point potential with her versatility. Emberton, meanwhile, will take part in the unusual trifecta of hurdles, discus and pole vault, while the team also returns Rodgers, a sprinter, who was injured much of last season. 

“After losing some major contributors in Gabi Allen, Bella Jackson and several good distance runners, we look to fill those gaps. Fortunately, we have several varsity returners in many events and several girls that can score well at big meets,” Bangel said. “I am expecting this team to be better than many expect and be their best at the end of the season in the tournament. With Drew Mallory and Brooklyn Taylor in the throws, we have a chance to score big points along with Tori Jackson in the distance races. Our sprint group looks to be better than expected, and I am excited to see how they continue to develop throughout the year.”