South Shelby Track Teams Look to Continue Success This Season

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By Mark Requet

  The South Shelby High School track season begins later this week.

  Coach Luke O’Laughlin is entering his seventh season as track coach. This year Caitlyn Poore and O’Laughlin will be Co-Head Coaches. Other coaches include assistant coach Dylan Whiston, and volunteer assistant Geoffery Giles.

  The Lady Birds will be led by seniors Aimee Vanskike, Belle Roush, Callie McWilliams, Sofia Eleazarraraz, and Madison Wilt. As for the Cardinals, they will be led by seniors Gabriel Bowen, Draden Black, Noah Wilt, Owen Stueve, Aadon Magruder, Preston Elsen, and Pryce Eagan.

  “The seniors on the team are obviously some really good athletes first and foremost,” said O’Laughlin. “They know how to go about a track season and have had a lot of success with all of the returners having earned at least one state medal throughout their high school career already and all are hoping to add to that.”

  Callie McWilliams is a returning state champion in the triple jump and O’Laughlin said she is hoping to give herself a shot at defending her title.

  “She was also a state medalist in the 400m last year and went to state in the 200m and the 4×4,” added O’Laughlin referring to McWilliams. “Sofia Eleazarraraz will be striving to make it back to state in the Long Jump for the third consecutive season. We’ll be looking for big things out of Charlie Roush in the Shot Put and Javelin this year as a Junior.”

  Gabe Bowen is a returning state champion in the javelin and hopes to give himself a shot at defending his title. Aadon Magruder is another returning state medalist in the Shot Put with a 4th place finish last year and is hoping to push for the top of the podium as well.

  “The 4×800 made a strong showing last year and really has a strong goal to make the podium this year,” said O’Laughlin. “It was a young group a year ago but will be more experienced this year and have a chance to do some good things.”

  Owen Stueve went to state for the long jump a year ago and O’Laughlin said he is hoping to make it to the podium this year.

  “Preston Elsen and Noah Wilt have been key members of all of their relays throughout their first three seasons and will lead those relays this spring as seniors,” added O’Laughlin.

  The other two Lady Bird juniors on the team are Hannah Gaines and Bella Cook. Junior Cardinals are Payton Hetheriton, Pedro Romanichen, Cooper Seaton, and Jacob Schiff.

  Rhylea Nance and Kylee Barton are the only two Lady Bird sophomores on the team. Sophomore Cardinas are Colt Threlkeld, Schyler Mason, Maxwell Mason, Beau Mason, and Hudson Gill.

  There are 10 freshmen on the team, all Lady Birds. They are Marley McGuire, Jordyn Hunolt, Samentha Koper, Lilly VanHouten, Ainsleigh Truitt, Lora Roush, Gracynn Lanpher, Zairi Vanskike-Hardy, and Avery Gough.

  O’Laughlin hopes to see some freshman and sophomores step up and contribute in a big way to help the team win as many track meets as possible.

  “We’re trying to teach some of the younger girls how to do different events so we can spread out our talent as best as possible,” said O’Laughlin. “We’re trying to get our large amount of distance and mid distance runners spread out on the boys’ team into different events for the best of the team.”

  Both squads have one main goal. Both teams want to score enough points at state to give themselves a chance at the podium as a team.

  O’Laughlin added that the athletes will work hard and do their best to compete.

  The track season opens on Thursday, March 27, at Macon, beginning at 4 p.m.