It’s been since 2014 that the Bradford High girls track team has won a District 9 Class AAA championship.
To get back to the top of the district, the Lady Owls will build on a successful indoor campaign that produced several school records with 32 girls out for the team this spring, including 11 returning letterwinners.
“We have been very pleased by our start,” Stillman said, “and we also had a very good indoor season that helped a lot of our athletes get ready for the outdoor season.”
During the indoor season, Ashton McGriff qualified for the state meet for the second year in a row, running 57.38 in the 400, which at the time was the sixth-fastest clip in Pennsylvania. Freshman Regan Johnson set an indoor mark in the 60-meter dash, while she added a leg on the 4×200 relay team with Ashton McGriff, Brooke McGriff and Logan Sunafrank to break a 10-year mark.
Six seniors will lead the Lady Owls on the track and in the field, led by two-time district hurdle outdoor champion Brooke McGriff, who advanced to states last spring.
“Brooke is a team leader every day,” Stillman said, “and she will also run relays and sprints along with the pole vault, where she has won two district titles.”
The two other senior returning letterwinners are Payton Kloss and Katie O’Neil. Stillman said Kloss “has developed into a very good 100, 200 and 400 runner,” while O’Neil is “one of our top long and high jumpers.”
The other seniors are Renee King (sprints), Alena Carnegie (throws, hurdles) and Emily Little (distance), who was the top cross country runner last fall.
Defending district 200- and 400-meter district champion Ashton McGriff leads the junior class after her record-breaking indoor season.
“She will runs sprints, but also try new events this spring,” Stillman said.
Abby Coffman and Sophia Oliver headline the throwers.
“They had solid indoor seasons and have worked hard all winter and spring,” Stillman said. “We believe they both could have breakout seasons.”
Amanda Little is another cross country runner and returning letterwinner who the coach said had “an excellent cross country and indoor season and we believe she will continue her success.”
Sunafrank (multi events) –– who missed last season after lettering as a freshman –– rounds out the junior class along with Alexis Brown (jumps), Destinee Deitz (distance), Jessica Hannon (pole vault), Taylor Mager (pole vault) and Hannah Ruttan (throws).
Four returning letterwinners highlight the sophomore class, with jumper Mikayla Bond poised to build on a solid indoor season. Lydia Pompa looks to improve in the javelin, while Morgan Tyger performed admirably, according to Stillman, in the 400 and 800 and may move up in distance this spring, as well as run on relays.
Pole vaulter Alexis Huber is another athlete Stillman is looking at to build on a solid freshman season and spend time in other events. Margie Dyleski (throws), Emily Keltz (jumps) and Taylor Lucco (pole vault) round out the 10th graders.
Nine freshmen join the Lady Owls team this spring.
“The freshmen are a good group of athletes and we know they will help us this spring,” Stillman said about the group.
The freshmen are Shea Crissman (distance), Conner Gracey-Dalton (middle distance), Gretchen Henneman (jumps), Katherine Huber (jumps), Johnson (sprints), Elizabeth Miller (sprints), Hailey Reid (sprints), Alexandra Safran (hurdles) and Mikah Watkins (sprints).
“Johnson had an excellent indoor season,” Stillman said, noting her school records in the 4×200 and 60 meters.
Gracey-Dalton also had a solid indoor season running in all our meets, according to Stillman.
The Lady Owls are going to be assisted by Natalie Marasco (sprints), Matt Teribery (pole vault) while also teaming with the boys’ coaches on a daily basis –– Tom Tessena (hurdles), Mark Kelley (distance) and Dave Cercone (throws).
The Lady Owls’ schedule includes five invitationals and home meets against always tough Kane, Brookville and Elk Catholic.
“Our schedule is a strong one with every dual meet looking to be competitive and five invitationals,” Stillman said. “We are going back to the Kane Invitational this spring and also going to Lock Haven instead of Erie McDowell to see more of our district competition.”
The schedule follows:
April
1 – South Hills Classic at Baldwin High School
4 – At St. Marys
8 – Harbor Creek Invitational
11 – KANE
18 – BROOKVILLE
22 – Kane Invitational
25 – At DuBois
29 – Lock Haven Invitational
May
2 – ELK CATHOLIC
5 – Altoona Invitational
9 – At Punxsutawney
17 – Districts
26-27 – States
