HS TRACK & FIELD: CANTON SEASON WRAP-UP (2012-06-20) CanTroSports The Canton boys’ and girls’ Track & Field teams completed successful seasons recently, highlighted by a solid group of District qualifiers between the two teams.
GIRLS For the girls’ team, several underclassmen stepped forward and led the charge, aiming to end Canton’s one-year drought of qualifying any girls for the District Meet.
Leading the way was freshmen jumper/sprinter Cassidy Bellows. Bellows wasted little time in securing Canton’s first female District appearance, as she qualified for the post-season in the Warriors’ first dual meet of the season. In addition to meeting the District qualifying standard in the triple jump, Bellows also later qualified in the long jump. The freshman then took advantage of the big stage at Districts to exceed her best performances of the season, placing 9th in the long jump (15’ 10.5”) and 10th in the triple jump (32’ 9.75”).
Sophomore thrower Addie Atherton-Ely used most of the season to work on her distances, qualifying for the District Meet in the javelin at the last meet of the season, the NTL Small School Championships. Atherton-Ely finished 21st (94’ 3”) at the District Meet, among a very strong group of throwers. The experience will benefit Atherton-Ely greatly, and Canton will depend on her to be a solid performer next season.
Pearl Hess, a sophomore hurdler, will also be expected to improve on a great first-year performance and to make a push at qualifying for the post-season next year. Hess finished 2nd and 3rd in the 100 (18.8) and 300 hurdles (55.7), respectively, at the NTL Small School Championships.
Other girls who will look to get under the District qualifying standards next season after solid performances this year include: Ali McNett, a junior sprinter/hurdler, who finished 2nd at the NTL Meet in the 300 hurdles (55.3). First-year sophomore Abby Larcom dropped her middle-distance times throughout the season and finished 4th in the 400 meter run (1:11) and 5th in the 800 (2:55) at the NTL Meet. Junior Morgan Stone took a 5th place in the 200 (30.6) and 9th in the 100 (14.6) at the Championship meet.
BOYS Unlike the girls’ team, the boys’ team entered the 2012 season with several returning District qualifiers, all looking to build and improve on their performances from a season ago.
In his third straight trip to the post-season, junior Eddie Larcom provided the Warriors with their highest District finish in several years, earning a 4th place medal in the 400 meter run (51.7). Larcom also qualified for the District Meet in the 200 meter run, and was inches away from earning a berth in the triple jump before a mid-season injury ended his season in the event.
Sophomore Will Unruh earned Canton’s other District medal, taking home a 5th place medal in the discus (139’ 11”). Unruh also competed in the shot put at Districts, earning a 15th place finish.
Following a very solid regular-season, Senior Zach Pettigrew made the return trip to Districts as well. After winning four events at the NTL Small School Championships, Pettigrew finished 14th and 15th in the 110 and 300 hurdles at Districts. Replacing Pettigrew’s points during the regular season meets next year will be no small task for the Canton staff.
Several Canton boys who will be looked at to improve on their District-qualifying season next year include: Distance runner Brooks Gleckner has the unfortunate fate of having to compete on a weekly basis against some of the strongest runners in the State! The junior will continue to chip away at the pack of runners from the NTL, looking to improve on 4th place finishes at the NTL meet in both the 1600 (4:49) and in the 3200 meter run (10:37). Freshman Brennan Gleckner finished right behind his brother in both the 1600 meter (4:50) and in the 3200 (10:57) at the Small School meet, then followed up his performance with a 11th place finish in the 3200 at the District Meet (10:31). Jumper Jesse Lattimer qualified for the District meet in both the long jump and the high jump, and the sophomore will anchor an improving group of Canton jumpers next season, along with classmate Brendan Cohick. Junior Jacob Miller made the trip to Districts in the javelin and will look to add to his qualifying events next season.
For first-year Head Coach Barry Morgan, the season played out close to as he expected.
”Overall, as a first year head coach, I was very pleased with the seasons for the boys and girls this year. With a new coaching staff and a fairly young team, it was a year of learning for everyone.”
When looking to the future of the program, Morgan is specific in where the weaknesses on the team lie.
”We need to try and find some hidden talent to help fill in the gaps in our middle distance races. We gave up a lot of points by not having much depth in races 400 meters and up.”
Coach Morgan and his staff, assistant coaches Michelle McNett and Tim Ward, are also excited by the athletes competing at the junior high level.
”There is also a lot of talent on the junior high teams that will have a great effect on the varsity teams within the next two years. Very exciting.”
Congratulations to all of the members of the Canton boys’ and girls’ Track & Field teams on a great season. With additional hard work and inclusion in the right events, look for some of the current boys and girls to improve on their performances and qualify for the State Meet next season.
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