Girls track and field season preview

<p>The final months of Bella Jackson’s high school track and field career won’t be mistaken for a nostalgic farewell tour.</p><p>Jackson, a Whiteland senior, is all business all of the time.</p><p>If it seems like a lot of time has passed since Jackson qualified for three events at the state meet, there’s good reason. It has indeed been nearly 21 months since Jackson, then a sophomore, placed third in the high jump and made it to the preliminaries of the 100- and 300-meter hurdles.</p><p>The cancelation of the 2020 spring sports seasons due to COVID-19 made her more determined to get back.</p><p>“I’ve had the state meet on my mind ever since my sophomore year, so I’m really excited about that,” Jackson said. “It does feel like it’s been so long ago, especially since I haven’t been able to compete, but I also want to keep it fresh in my mind.</p><p>“I definitely want to get some state titles, but also just have fun with it since it’s my last year here.”</p><p>In November, Jackson signed a national letter of intent to run track and field at Lipscomb University, a Division I school in Nashville, Tennessee. Her future coaches want to take advantage of Jackson’s versatility by grooming her in the heptathlon, made up of seven events: 200- and 800-meter runs, 100 hurdles, long jump, shot put, high jump and javelin throw.</p><p>“When I visited there, I really liked the campus and the atmosphere. I had a really good connection with the coach, and I feel like I’ll be wanted there,” said Jackson, who plans to study to become a dietician. “I think it’s the best place for me to grow.”</p><p>Jackson is presently focused on helping the Warriors gain as much momentum as possible during the regular season in an effort to make a push toward an unprecedented top-10 finish in the team standings at state.</p><p>A lot would have to go Whiteland’s way for it to happen, but it remains possible given the team’s overall level of talent and dedication.</p><p>Leading the way is Jackson.</p><p>“Bella continued to work through the summer, and hasn’t really stopped working out,” Warriors coach Brandon Bangel said. “I was writing workouts for her in the summer, and she would find a place to go run, videotape herself and send it to me. She stayed very, very active in her training.</p><p>“One thing I’ll say is I have zero concern about her just kind of cashing it in this season,” Bangel said. “Winning the state championship in the high jump is the ultimate prize, and obviously she’ll be in the mix.”</p><p>Whiteland opens its outdoor season at home next Monday against Franklin and Perry Meridian.</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="Scouting the county" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p><strong>Center Grove Trojans</strong></p><p>Coach: Wes Dodson</p><p>Top returnees: Taylor Jarosinski, Makensie Kramer and Ella Rasche, seniors; Skyler Sichting, junior</p><p>Key newcomers: Bella Hodges and Rebecca Stockman, juniors; Kate Henselmeier, Cassidy West and Shelby Wingler, sophomores; Dee Biddings, Lilly Brunsman, Kristen Lavergne, Maddie Kramer, Gracie Livingston, Liz Madden and Lara Phipps, freshmen</p><p>Outlook: At least initially, the strength of this team is in the field events, where Jarosinski was runner-up in the pole vault at the 2019 state meet and Rasche qualified in the shot put. As a freshman, Hodges was part of Pike’s 10th-place 4×400 relay at state. Dodson is encouraged by the progress of newcomers Biddings and Lavergne in the sprints and likes the improvement hurdlers Makensie Kramer and Sichting have made. “It starts with Taylor and Ella,” Dodson said. “Both have improved some, but I think a lot of the girls have gotten better.”</p><p><strong>Edinburgh Lancers</strong></p><p>Coach: Amy Schilling</p><p>Top returnees: Elle Dayton and Malkia Willard, seniors</p><p>Key newcomers: Chloe Greathouse and Alanna Hobbs, freshmen</p><p><strong>Franklin Grizzly Cubs</strong></p><p>Coach: Ray Lane</p><p>Top returnees: Jaclyn Boardman, Cami Kelsay, Lillian Lacy and Lauren Sandrock, seniors; Alyssa Henderson and Jenna Newton, juniors</p><p>Key newcomers: Brooke Coffman, Alyson Garrison, Morgan Sandrock and Amelia Tisdale, sophomores; Lauren Klem, Addie Morris and Sydney Woodward, freshmen</p><p>Outlook: Lacy, Newton, Klem and Woodward, starters on the cross country team that finished 15th at state in the fall, give the Grizzly Cubs plenty of possibilities in distance events. Kelsay is expected to lead Franklin in the sprints and long jump with Lauren Sandrock competing in hurdles.</p><p>“Distance is probably our strongest area,” Lane said. “With having cross country the last two years, we know what we have there, but with everything else it’s kind of unknown. Several of the girls have aspirations to make it to the state meet, but nothing is guaranteed. It’s a first-step-first group. Our main goal is to improve on our finishes at the county and conference meets from two years ago (third and fourth, respectively), and sectional (fourth). We have some good young talent, obviously, so we’re going to do a lot of learning over the first half of the season, just finding out where everyone fits best.”</p><p><strong>Greenwood Woodmen</strong></p><p>Coach: Blaine Williams</p><p>Top returnees: Olivia Brawley, Siena Halfaker, Ava Leininger and Faith Peebles, seniors; Selena Piñon, Lauren Pritchett and Raegan Roberts, juniors</p><p>Key newcomers: Lily Hommell, sophomore; Ellie Irwin and Amy Luttrell, freshmen</p><p>Outlook: The Woodmen, scheduled to open the season April 6 when they welcome New Palestine, will be led by Leininger and Piñon in the distance events and Halfaker in the hurdles.</p><p>“With Selena and Ava and a few of the other girls from cross country, I would say that’s probably the strength of our team,” Williams said. “Siena has been to the regional as a sophomore in the 100 hurdles. She knows this is it for her, so she wants to make the most of this season.”</p><p><strong>Greenwood Christian Cougars</strong></p><p>Coach: T.J. Lovejoy</p><p>Top returnees: Kirsten Carlson and Whitney Smith, juniors</p><p>Key newcomers: Izzy Cameron and Adeline Jolley, sophomores; Naomi Hillenburg, freshman</p><p><strong>Indian Creek Braves</strong></p><p>Coach: Brady Devine</p><p>Top returnees: Kiley Breeden, Tori Iaria and Luci Woodrum, seniors; Jada Flora, Paxton Marshall and Amanda Ulerick, juniors</p><p>Key newcomers: Paige Iaria and Tarra Turnmire, sophomores; Phoebe Dowty, Molly Margison, Hanna Seitzinger and Ella Taylor, freshmen</p><p>Outlook: Distance events are the strength of this team, considering Dowty placed fourth at the cross country sectional and teammates Woodrum and Paige Iaria were 21st and 22nd, respectively. Tori Iaria is expected to compete in the hurdles events; Turnmire has shown promise as a thrower. “We have by far a record number of athletes on the team compared to past years,” Devine said. “With that said, the goal is to compete better as a collective group in meets such as the county and conference meets.”</p><p><strong>Whiteland Warriors</strong></p><p>Coach: Brandon Bangel</p><p>Top returnees: Gabi Allen, Alexa Brodnik, Lauren Fish, Isabella Jackson, Claire Overfelt and Hailee Park, seniors; Lydia Lukich, Drew Mallory and Katia Olmstead, juniors</p><p>Key newcomers: Brooklyn Taylor, sophomore; Emma Gill, Tori Jackson and Sydney Rodgers, freshmen</p><p>Outlook: The return of Jackson and Allen has the Warriors thinking big thoughts for both the regular season and postseason. Jackson, a third-place state finisher in the high jump in 2019, is also expected to be among the state’s best in the 100 and 300 hurdles and be part of Whiteland’s 4×400 relay. Allen, a fourth-place finisher at regional in the 100 hurdles two years ago, will be counted on, as will a deep collection of veteran distance runners.</p><p>“We kind of have two big point scorers, and we’re deep on the distance side with a lot of versatility in that group,” Bangel said. “This is probably the most committed group of distance kids we’ve had. They’ve done everything they’ve had to do to have a successful season.”</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]