Pendleton Heights track and field teams ready for competitive season
PENDLETON — Pendleton Heights has a long history of excellence in track and field, and after a year’s hiatus, the Arabians are eager to continue the tradition.
Coach Bill Coggins, in his third year as head coach for the girls and fourth for the boys, has liked what he’s seen in practice, but the real test will be when the teams have the opportunity to compete.
“They are excited and chomping at the bit,” Coggins said.
The first meet of the season is at home with Frankton March 29. Unlike in years past, there have been no indoor competitions this year. Last spring, teams had two of their indoor meets before competition and everything else ground to a halt because of COVID-19.
The Arabians girls will go into the Madison County meet April 16 with a mind to continue their dominance. After 12 county titles in a row, the Arabians have a target on their backs but are coming into the season with seasoned veterans and promising newcomers.
Seniors Maddie Terrell and Emma Konkle will lead the sprinters and be joined by emerging arrivals — sophomores Abby Fisher, Kaitlyn Prickett and Brielle Tyler, and freshman Alivia Fox.
“Our freshman class is small but very talented,” Coggins said. He also pointed out the strength of the sophomore class as well is promising for seasons beyond this one.
In the distance events, Juniors Katie Jones and Laney Ricker, top Arabians cross country athletes, return this season. Coggins highlighted freshmen Abby Davidson, Jaycee Thurman and Olivia Welpott as runners to watch throughout the season.
In the field events, juniors Cori Stonecipher and Maddie Heineman return for the Arabians, and sophomore Isabelle Simmons joins the mix.
Coggins said everyone has been training well and is without injury, but it’s hard to know exactly where the team stands until the season begins.
The boys will look to defend their Madison County title for the third time in a row and, like the girls, have a mix of seasoned veterans and newcomers to aid in bringing home the title again.
Seniors Sean Roan, Taylor Skalon and junior Avry Carpenter make up the nucleus of the distance runners. All were members of the cross country squad competing at semistate last fall.
Sophomore Andrew Blake and freshman Will Coggins, who were also part of that semistate team, make up the bulk of the distance events athletes.
Seniors Caden McClain, Kyle Drinkut and Owen Lowhorn, and junior Ethan Ross, are the returning sprinters for the Arabians, but several underclassmen will showcase their talents as well.
Sophomores Jaylan Seeko and Isaac Elizondo will be joined by freshmen Eli Arthur and Layne Richardson.
In 2019, then-sophomore Andrew Harvey won a sectional title in the discus and runner-up honors in the shot put. Harvey is back as a senior, and Coggins said he believes Harvey could be on track to go beyond sectional competition this year.
“We have a great mix of returning talented juniors and seniors and a strong core of freshmen and sophomores,” Coggins said.
He added the goal for both teams is to be strong competitors, not only in the county but also at the Hoosier Heritage Conference meet and in the sectional as well. In both the conference and sectional, Coggins said there is an abundance of talented teams, but Mt. Vernon and New Palestine will always be ones to watch.
“It is so competitive anymore. Anyone can come in and win,” Coggins said.
With a number of athletes competing in multiple events, including the relays, the Arabians will fill all the events. Both teams will play host to their own invitational in April and compete in a number of invitational meets this season.
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Schedules
Boys
March 29 — Frankton Home 5 p.m.
April 12 — Shenandoah/Yorktown Away 5 p.m.
April 14 — Marion Away 5:30 p.m.
April 16 — Madison County Madison-Grant 5 p.m.
April 19 — Lawrence North Home 5:30 p.m.
April 22 — Pendleton Heights Boys Invite Home 5 p.m.
April 24 — Southport Relays Away 9 a.m.
April 30 — Zionsville Invite Away 5:30 p.m.
May 4 — New Castle/Anderson Home 5 p.m.
May 7 — Pike Away 6 p.m.
May 10 — Noblesville Relays Away 5:30 p.m
May 13 — HHC Away 5:30 p.m.
May 20 — Sectional Mount Vernon 5:30 p.m.
Girls
March 29 — Frankton Home 5 p.m.
March 31 — Fishers Home 5:30 p.m.
April 12 — Shenandoah/Yorktown Away 5 p.m.
April 14 — Marion Away 5:30 p.m.
April 16 — Madison County Madison-Grant 5 p.m.
April 24 — Southport Relays Away 9 a.m.
April 27 — Pendleton Heights Girls Invite Home 5 p.m.
April 30 — Zionsville Invite Away 5:30 p.m.
May 4 — New Castle/Anderson Home 5 p.m.
May 7 — Pike Away 6 p.m.
May 11 — HHC Away 5:30 p.m
May 18 — Sectional Pendleton Heights 5:15 p.m.
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Freshmen
Elijah Arthur
William Coggins Will
Lucas Pardue
Dillon Penrod
Layne Richardson
Dresden Roberts
Blake Strauss
Deven Taulman
Sophomores
Michael Barber
Andrew Blake
Nicholas Bronnenberg Nick
Isaac Elizondo
Brenden Hubble
Jason Lyst
Richard Nielsen Mark
Ian McLaughlin
Jaylan Seeko Jay
Juniors
Avry Carpenter
Elijah Creel
Luke Mills
Ethan Ross
Beck Sebastian
Jonathan Stoner
Seniors
Luke Bays
Caleb Bickham
Cooper Cochran
DeMarco Cooley
Kyle Drinkut
Hunter Edwards
Andrew Harvey
Nicholas Herrberg Nick
Evan John
Owen Lowhorn
Caden McClain
Sean Roan
Taylor Skalon
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Freshmen
Abigail Davidson
Alivia Fox
Delaney Fultz
Jillian Jackson
Chloe Jones
Kaydance Mirante
Mareena Moore
Bella Myers
Jaycee Thurman
Haley Weiandt
Olivia Welpott
Sophomores
Gabrielle Tyler Brielle
Abigale Fisher
Samantha Green
Madelyn Heineman
Luci Lamper
Katelyn McHatton
Kaitlyn Prickett
Isabelle Simons
Maddox Smith
Juniors
Kasey Cruse
Ella Dixon
Catherine Dudley
Darcy Jacobs
Katie Jones
Layla Jones
Ashlyn Kopf
Laney Ricker
Cori Stonecipher
Claire Wittkamper
Seniors
Emma Konkle
Bailey Pippin
Alexis Selg
Madison Terrell
Emma Weflen
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