The Perryville track and field program expects past success will breed future achievement. With the Panthers' boys team winning consecutive state titles while the girls squad has also experienced success, turnout is at an all-time high. Perryville has 104 student-athletes split equally with 52 boys and 52 girls. That will make for some crowded conditions on bus trips, but coach Jake Moore isn't complaining. Capturing a third straight state title will be a difficult task. Of the 10 Perryville boys who scored points in the state meet in an individual event, only one remains – distance runner Adam Thornton. The Panthers will have a talented team.
Eathen Griffin, Elijah Johnson, Tony Smith, Anthony Hernandez, Randy Wenck, and Josh Bargsten will lead the sprinters. Perryville has introduced a new training regimen they call "sprinstance". The joint effort between Moore and co-coach Travon Morgan has sprinters and distance runners training together. "The sprinters can learn from training with the distance runners and vice versa," Moore said. Tyler McCall, Caleb Stevens, Ben Douty, Shawn Montz, and Hernandez are expected to be the Panthers' top middle distance runners. Thornton, third in the state 3200 last spring, leads the distance corps. Justin Harreld, Jacobo Negron, Alex Shires, and Clayton Searles are also part of the equation. Many of the Panthers' top runners were part of the state champion cross country team, but Moore points out "track is a new monster." Cam Cunningham, Johnson, and Smith will be factors in the jumps. Montz, Cunningham, and Toby DiMauro will score points in the hurdles. Melvin Dowdy, Volvicson Joseph, and Marcos Garcia will contribute in the sprints and hurdles. Ben Kuhn will lead the group of shot puters and discus throwers along with Jeff Pollard, Teryl Cain, Logan Kelly, Joe McGuigan, Ian Knox, and Dakota Ward. Cam Crosler, who cleared 11 feet to place fourth at the state indoor meet, tops the group of pole vaulters which includes Harreld, Corban Porch, Tyler DiMauro, and Zach Buckson. Moore expects another successful season. The boys were sixth in the indoor meet and have added a lot of strong atletes. "It's all about keeping healthy and what they want to accomplish," Moore said. The girls team is also primed for an outstanding season. Seniors Taesha Andre and Angelica Conway were part of record-setting indoor relays. "It's the first time in a while we've had some sprinters we can throw out there with confidence," Jake Moore said. Tori Antoshak, Autumn Estep, and Krissy McDuff will lead the middle distance runners with help from Alysa Conway, Brooke Doane, and Claire Hudson. Former state champion Jordan Dodson can contribute in any event between the 400 and 3200 and also excels as a role model and leader. Allison Morris, Aleah Losoya, Megan Hall, and Rachel Marshall top the list of distance runners. Sierra Montz will lead the group of hurdlers which includes Mollie Lipka, Tyeisha Peaker, Jasmine Hayden, Volvika Joseph, and Kayla Losoya. The group of throwers is unproven but has potential with Taylor Edwards, Abbey Dimling, Hannah Christian, and Jillian Miller and newcomers Nicolette Cumberbatch and Dominique Foster. Montz is the only returning jumper. "We're taking auditions," Moore says. Hailey McDonald, who placed in both the high jump and pole vault at the indoor meet, is slated to miss the first part of the season because of injury, but is expected to return and contribute. Danielle Drennen, Paiton Kelly, and Sam Zurvalec will help in the pole vault. Montz will score points in the high jump with help from Doane, Teri Wennersten, and Erika Scheppelmann who scored points in last year's region meet. "For the first time in a long time we have a lot of depth," Moore said. "Combine that with senior leadership and I'm more excited for the girls team in the seven years I've been here. They are anxious to get out from the guys' shadow." The Panthers are also participating in competition instituted by girls coach Raissa Moore. The 24/7 Athlete Challenge encourages team members to engage in healthy behavior and perform a random act of kindness. Standings will be kept throughout the year. Comments are closed.
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