HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM: Williamsburg girls optimistic heading into track season

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By Travis Gorsch, Williamsburg senior

WILLIAMSBURG - Despite losing nine seniors from last year's squad,  the Williamsburg girls'  track and field team has some high expectations going into the 2012 season.

Last year team qualified in three events for the Drake relays, won a regional title  and advanced 17 events to state. The Raiders have a lot of returning young talent this spring, which makes for an exciting season.

The Raiders qualified for Drake in the shot put, discus, and 400-meter relay last April. Senior Dakotah Goodell  competed in the shot put and discus for the Raiders. The 400 relay team was made up of sophomores Brooke Beasley and Paige Griener, senior McCall Meade and junior Kali Slaymaker. The Raiders finished 52nd out of 80 in the  relay at Drake, but all four  members are back.

Of the 17 state-qualifying events last spring, only three involved senior runners. Everyone else is coming back.

The entire 800, 1,600,  sprint medley and distance medley relays return intact. The Raiders also have some outstanding individuals coming back and  field events are strong, led by defending Drake Relays and state discus champion Dakotah Goodell.

A senior,  Goodell  set a state record with a throw of 140 feet 10 inches last year.  She also placed ninth at Drake and seventh at state in the shot put.

Junior Regan Glandorf  is a returning member of the 3,200-meter team that took 21st place at state last year. Glandorf is a long distance specialist, competing in the 800-, 1500- and 3000-meter runs.

Senior Natasha Bruer  is on two of the state qualifying relay teams, the 3,200 and distance medley. Individually, she placed 22nd in the 1500 run at  state. She also competes in the 800.

Senior Caitlin Osweiler  is a returning member of the 3,200  team and also competes in the 400 and 800.

Meade participates in four of the state qualifying relays teams. She is on the distance medley, sprint medley, 800 1,600relays. Individually, she competes in the 100- and 200-meter dash.

Beasley is a member of three relay teams - the sprint medley, distance medley and 1600. Beasley also runs the 100, 200 and 400  individually.

Junior Lindsay Schlabaugh  is a returning state medalist in the 400-meter hurdles, placing eighth  in 2011. She also is part of distance medley and 800 relay teams that qualified for state.

Slaymaker  placed 16th in the 400 dash at state last year and was a member of the 400 relay team at Drake. At state, she ran on the 1600 and  sprint medley relays. She also ran  100 dash and 800.

Griener  was a part of the sprint medley, 1600 relay and 800 relay teams  last year. She ran the 100 and 200 meter dash and competed in the long jump.

Sophomore Rebecca Imhoff  was a member of the 800 relay team and runs the 200 meter dash as well as the 400 meter dash.

Senior Lindsey Spratt is the only returning member of the 400- meter relay team that qualified for state last year. She competed in the shuttle hurdle relay at state, as well, and participates in the 100 hurdles and 200 dash.

Senior Mackenzie Bigbee  also was part of the shuttle hurdle team that made it to state. Bigbee placed 20th in the high jump and 21st in the long jump last year. She also runs 100 meter hurdles.