Blackhawk Squad Showing Depth

West Plains girls track

When they step onto the track tonight at Rogers High School, the Cheney girls will be deeper than they were a year ago.

But with 20 freshman out for the team, it’ll still be a matter of time before coach Bruce Abbott knows just how his Blackhawks, 4-3 in the Frontier League a year ago, will fare in 1997.

“Sometimes ninth-graders will surprise you,” Abbott said. “There are a lot of question marks. It just depends on how we gel.”

Over at Medical Lake, where the Cardinal girls finished in the middle of the Northeast A pack a year ago, a trio of state medalists return to Northeast A action.

Vicki Carson, Amanda Carson, and Jami Smith, all seniors, ran with the Cardinals’ 800-meter relay team that was eighth at state. Smith also was a state finalist in the triple jump.

According to coach Laurie Ticknor, the ML team is still relatively small but should again be strong in individual events.

Just weeks after helping lead the Cheney girls to the state basketball tournament, junior Anna Getz returns to the Blackhawk track oval, where she’ll compete in the high jump, the 400 meters and relays. Joining her will be fellow junior Jeannette Zimmer, a former state cross country champ who will alternate at the 800, 1,600, and 3,200 meters this season.

Junior Nina Boline runs the 100 hurdles and competes in the triple and high jumps. The Blackhawks also return senior long and triple-jumper Shelly Hebner, and Janelle Dempsey, a sophomore speedster at 100 and 200 meters and in the sprint relays.

Only three freshman are out for the Medical Lake team, but all have shown promise in early season workouts, according to coach Ticknor.

Cheri Montgomery will help out in distance events, Nicola George in sprints and Adrianne Traylor in the throws.

The Cardinals’ strength will come from their seniors.

Joining Carson, Carson and Smith will be 12th-grade returners Tonisha Hembach, a jumper, Krista Robinson, another jumper, hurdler Jamie Shue, and throwers Danielle Walker and Deanna Weber.

Underclassmen returning from last season include junior Anngela Groke, in the hurdles and the jump events. Sophomores Atiya Palmer, in the 400 meters, distance runner Becky Palmer, and Jessica Stewart, a thrower, along with junior newcomer Melissa Page in the middle distances, provide ML with a little depth as well as a cornerstone for the Cardinal’s future.