By GREG MENGELT
Greg.Mengelt@newsandtribune.com
>>SOUTHERN INDIANA —
As a junior, Jeffersonville’s Shanice Gholson won four sectional championships, three regional championship and a state title.
Most athletes would be satisfied with those results. Gholson isn’t.
“The motivation is to come back and repeat in the 100 and add the 200,” she said.
Gholson won the 100 meters at the state meet by .13 seconds over Warren Central’s Ebony Wright. However, she finished ninth in the 200 and 12th in the long jump. Those are numbers Gholson would like to improve.
“She’s stronger. I believe she’s quicker this year. She seems to be very focused on this season and proving that it wasn’t a fluke last year and that she can come back out and do it again,” Jeffersonville coach Tom Kendall said.
“We want her to be the 100 and 200 state champion,” Jeff sprint coach Roger Redd added. “She’s ready for it. She’s put in the effort.”
Gholson, who will sign next week to play basketball and run track at Vincennes University, simply wasn’t strong enough to win the 100 and 200 last season. She qualified for the state meet in both sprinting events, the long jump and the 400 relay. That meant she had to run five times and jump six times. It was just to much for the junior.
“That was just exhausting,” Gholson recalled. “I ran the trials with the long jump between that and the relays between that.”
Kendall admitted that it may have been a mistake to let Gholson run all four events.
“Maybe we should have dropped her out of one of those last year. But she was the first girl ever from Jeff to qualify in four events, and we wanted to let her compete in all of them,” Kendall recalled.
Gholson said she now understands what it takes to win the 100 and 200 at the state meet, and she’s done the work to get it done.
“I have to work harder and make sure I can handle it,” Gholson said. “Last year, I wasn’t as strong as I am this year.”
Redd has no doubt that Gholson can pull off the double this season.
“She tends to turn it on when it’s needed,” Redd said. “She thrives on big meets.”
“She could win the (100). She could win the (200), and our relay should finish decent (at state),” Kendall said. “And her long jump’s improving. Shanice is one of those athletes that comes along once in a lifetime. She’s been a real blessing for us.”
Gholson put everyone in the state on notice that she is back for more in last week’s invitational in Louisville. She ran a 12.2 in the 100, nearly as fast as her end-of-the-season time last year.
“That’s where we’re starting out this year, so that’s a really good sign,” Kendall evaluated. “She ran really well there.”
Gholson credits teammate Brooklyn Kinnaird, who finished second in the Jeffersonville Sectional, with helping push her and keep her focused.
“Brooklyn has been the third leg (in the 400 relay) since I was a sophomore,” Gholson said. “We play basketball together, so we understand each other. She works hard and she’s getting faster and faster.”
Kendall said he expects Kinnaird to accompany Gholson to the state meet in 2010.
“I’d like to see her run second in the sectional and maybe even qualify for state,” Kendall said. “That’s a possibility.”
Despite the fact that she never gets to win, Kinnaird said she’s OK with it.
“She pushes me. She motivates me to make it to state this year to get faster,” the junior said. “It doesn’t frustrate me. We’re teammates and it’s points for our team.”
“Brooklyn’s a good all-around athletes,” Kendall added. “She’d be the star if Shanice wasn’t here, and she handles that really well. She’s a real team player and a great kid.”
GIRLS TEAM CAPSULES
BORDEN
• HEAD COACH: Liz Geltmaker
• LAST YEAR AT SECTONAL: seventh at Corydon.
• KEY RETURNEES: Melissa Hunt (Sr., throwing events); Sierra Martin (So., throwing events); McKenna Williams (So, sprints).
• OTHER RETURNEES AND NEWCOMERS: Leslie Beatty (Fr., sprinter); Rachel Kirchgessner (Jr., middle distance).
• OUTLOOK: The Braves aren’t very deep, but they do have some top-end talent, starting with Hunt, last year’s shot put sectional champion. Hunt and Martin make for one of the area’s best throwing tandems. Williams should make a good showing in the Southern Athletic Conference in the sprinting events as well.
GELTMAKER SAYS: “I am really looking forward to this year’s track season. We have a lot of young talent, and I have a great group of girls to work with this year.”
CHARLESTOWN
• HEAD COACH: Jim Abel
• LAST YEAR AT SECTIONAL: Did not score.
• OUTLOOK: In his first year as the Charlestown head coach, Jim Abel will have to replace sprinter Samantha Farmer and thrower Carolyn Rhoten, their two top competitors last season.
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
• LAST YEAR AT SECTIONAL: 11th at Corydon.
• OUTLOOK: With sprinter Ali Thompson and 800-meter runner Samantha Chestnut gone, the Warriors are expected to be in a rebuilding year.
CLARKSVILLE
• HEAD COACH: Darrell Kingery
• LAST YEAR AT SECTIONAL: ninth at Corydon.
• KEY RETURNEES: none.
• OTHER RETURNEES AND NEWCOMERS: Roshanda Hogue (Fr., distance and long jump); Shelby Foster (Fr., various).
• OUTLOOK: Houge and Foster are the only girls out for the team, but Kingery has high hopes for both freshmen.
• KINGERY SAYS: “We hope to increase our numbers to become competitive as a team, but these two will do a great job as individuals.”
FLOYD CENTRAL
• HEAD COACH: Sarah Fox
• LAST YEAR AT SECTIONAL: second at Corydon.
• KEY RETURNEES: Jessica Foster (Jr., middle distance); Kaitlin Hein (So., middle distance); Cassie Holland (So., middle distance); Meghan Jones (Sr., sprints, high jump); Hannah Keehn (Jr., distance); Abigail Kost (Jr., throwing events); Kelsey Mayfield (So., sprints, long jump, shot put); Chelsea Reidinger (Jr., distance); Connie Rhodes (So., distance); Payton Rice (Jr., sprints, pole vault); Nikki Roberts (Sr., hurdles); Marissa Samons (So., hurdles); Sarah Schraffenberger (Sr., pole vault); Sierra Walsh (Jr., sprints).
• OTHER RETURNEES AND NEWCOMERS: Laura Der (Sr., sprints, long jump); Brittany Helmer (Jr., pole vault); Mollyann Lessig (Fr., sprints); Alyssa Love (Sr., hurdles); Alyssa Moore (Fr., middle distance); Marissa Samons (So., hurdles).
• OUTLOOK: After finishing three points short of sectional champion New Albany last season, the Highlanders feel they have something to prove. This year’s team is deep and talented, led by defending sectional champions Jones and Roberts. Field events will be one of Floyd’s strengths. Floyd also should push New Albany, Columbus East, Madison and Jeffersonville for the Hoosier Hills Conference crown.
• FOX SAYS: “I think we have a good chance (to win sectional), but (New Albany) is always good, and their coach (Casey Schneider) is good, too. I expect it to be competitive, but I think we can win. I expect to win this year.”
HENRYVILLE
• HEAD COACH: Josh Conrad
• LAST YEAR AT SECTIONAL: sixth at Jeffersonville.
• KEY RETURNEES: Jenna Crick (Jr., sprints); Brittany Enteman (Sr., throwing events); Hannah Gilstrap (So., sprints, long jump); Alex Horine (Jr., throwing events); Caitlyn Lynch (So., distance); Allison Knox (So., hurdles, pole vault); Alyssa McMinoway (Sr., sprints); Jena Miller (Sr., middle distance); Kasey Motsinger (sprints, long jump); Makenzie Smith (So., high jump); Abby Taylor (Sr., sprints, hurdles, pole vault); Leslie Thomas (Sr., middle distance, high jump).
• OTHER RETURNEES AND NEWCOMERS: Leslie Brishaber (Sr., thrower); Kris Cochran (Jr., sprints); Morgan Guthrie (Fr., distance); Kelsey Guernsey (Fr., distance); Jasmine Harrell (Fr., sprints, hurdles); Jenna Harrell (So., throwing events); Haley Robertson (Fr., sprints).
• OUTLOOK: The Hornets have a lot of athletes back from a successful 2008-09 season. Gilstrap was Henryville’s most valuable athlete last year and returns after fifth-place finishes in the 400 meters and the 300 low hurdles in last year’s sectional. Taylor and Thomas — the team’s senior leaders — are capable of competing in a variety of events and are the team’s leaders. Brishaber is back after missing last year with a back injury.
• CONRAD SAYS: “We have a great group of senior leaders and several good athletes. If we can fill a couple spots in the distance events, we should have a pretty good team. We have two goals in mind — one, defending our conference championship and two, advancing individuals in the postseason. Our conference has a lot of talent again this year so it should be another fun season.”
JEFFERSONVILLE
• HEAD COACH: Tom Kendall
• LAST YEAR AT SECTIONAL: second at Jeffersonville.
• KEY RETURNEES: Connie Chan (Jr., distance); Amber Collins (Jr., throwing events); Devin Conway (Sr., middle distance); Ellie Delap (So., distance); Shanice Gholson (Sr., sprints, long jump); Brooklyn Kinnaird (Jr., sprints); Tierney Mull (Jr., throwing events); Arica Newcom (Sr., pole vault); Lavada Roberson (So., sprints); Shelby Simcoe (Sr., middle distance); Rachelle Thomas (Jr., distance); Jasmine Witherspoon (Jr., hurdles).
• OTHER RETURNEES AND NEWCOMERS: Megan Blackburn (Jr., middle distance, high jump); Yolando Gales (So., sprints); Sarah Gatewood (So., sprints); Fariel Rago (Sr., middle distance).
• OUTLOOK: Gholson returns as the defending state champion in the 100 meters and the defending sectional champion in the 200 and the long jump. Kinnaird gives Jeff depth at the sprints. The Red Devils will also be strong in the middle distance with Conway, the 800 sectional champion last season, and Blackburn. Mull leads a strong throwing crew. She finished second in the discus and third in the shot put in the sectional last season.
• KENDALL SAYS: “We should be better than we were last year. Shanice looks stronger and quicker than last year. I think our (400) relay team will break the school record if we get our handoffs down. (In the sectional), (defending champion) Madison’s going to be tough. They got us last year by a few points. I think Madison’s the team to beat in the sectional.”
NEW ALBANY
• HEAD COACH: Casey Schneider
• LAST YEAR AT SECTIONAL: Corydon champions.
• KEY RETURNEES: Anastasia Booker (Sr., middle distance); Hannah Dailey (Sr., throwing events); Hannah Finchum (Sr., sprints, hurdles); Angelica Groves (Sr., sprints, long jump); Danielle Hutchinson (Jr., sprints); Kellybrooke Lane (Sr., sprints); Jensen Ricke (Sr., high jump).
• OTHER RETURNEES AND NEWCOMERS: Phoebe Bauer (Fr., distance); Tanner Marcum (Fr., sprints); Lauren Palmer (Fr., sprints); Reid Milam (Fr., sprints).
• OUTLOOK: New Albany is young, but should still contend for the Corydon Central Sectional. The Bulldogs are talented and very deep in the sprinting department, led by defending 100 sectional champion Finchum and Lane, who was second in the 100 and 200 at the sectional. Groves is a strong sprinter and even better in field events. The addition of Bauer — the Hoosier Hills Conference cross country champion — will help give the Bulldogs some points in the distance events.
• SCHNEIDER SAYS: “I am extremely excited for the upcoming season. The girls have been working hard and are looking forward to competition. With an extremely young squad, I look for us to improve drastically over the season and to be competitive by tournament time.”
NEW WASHINGTON
• HEAD COACH: Tabitha Sexton
• LAST YEAR AT SECTIONAL: fourth at Jeffersonville.
• KEY RETURNEES: Desiree Beard (Sr., throwing events); Rachel Dieterlen (So., sprints, middle distance); Chloe Franklin (Jr., throwing events); Lindsay Krohn (Sr., hurdles, long jump); Kaela Moore (Sr., sprints, long jump); Hannah Seals (Sr., middle distance); Rachel Seals (So., distance); Katelyn Walker (Jr., sprints, high jump).
• OTHER RETURNEES AND NEWCOMERS: Hailey Ennis, So.; Kaelin Hentrup, Fr.; Alicia Harrod, Fr.; Brittany Kemper, So.; Kriston Sarver, Fr.; Rebecca Wolfe, Jr.
• OUTLOOK: With several athletes back from a strong 2009 team, New Washington should have a very successful 2010 season. The Mustangs should excel in sprinting, high jumping and throwing. Krohn is a sectional contender in the hurdles, as is Walker in the high jump and Rachel Seals in the 3,200. New Wash also returns most of its members from a 400 relay team that broke the school record and advanced to the regional last year.
• SEXTON SAYS: “I am expecting us to have an outstanding season. The girls have been practicing hard and their times are outstanding. I am looking forward to a winning season.”
PROVIDENCE
• HEAD COACH: Jeanne Luther
• LAST YEAR AT SECTIONAL: fourth at Corydon Central.
• KEY RETURNEES: Kallie Ash (Jr., distance); Casey Marlin (Jr., sprints); Sarah Frey (Sr., sprints); Mary Graf (So., middle distance); Amanda McCauley (Jr., middle distance); Casey McCauley (Jr., distance); Erin McLeland (Jr., long jump); Kayla Meisner (Jr., throwing events, hurdles); Brittany Pierce (throwing events); Adrienne Rivard (Jr., hurdles); Alex Rodden (Sr., high jump); Erin Roesner (Jr., sprints, high jump); Linden Spalding (Sr., distance); Alexis Very (Sr., sprints).
• OTHER RETURNEES AND NEWCOMERS: Emily Brier (Jr., high jump); Kacie Pace (Fr., sprints), Erin Denis (Fr., distance); Kori Siebert (Fr., distance).
• OUTLOOK: Providence has plenty of talent and depth. The Pioneers should be solid, especially in dual meets. Ash (3,200), Frey (400), Meisner, Spalding (1,600) and Rodden are all sectional contenders, making Providence a dangerous team.
LUTHER SAYS: “With 40 girls, we have a lot of depth. Once we get into track shape, things could get interesting.”
SILVER CREEK
• HEAD COACH: Matthew Himmelhaver, Al Eckert and Todd Balmer share the duties.
• LAST YEAR AT SECTIONAL: third at Jeffersonville.
• KEY RETURNEES: Courtney Christman (Jr., sprints, discus); Rachel Clemons (So., sprints, long jump); Olivia Horvath (Sr., distance); Chelsea Schrader (Jr., sprints); Molly Voyles (Jr., 400, long jump, pole vault).
• OTHER RETURNEES AND NEWCOMERS: Sammie Smith (Fr., sprints, pole vault).
• OUTLOOK: The Dragons aren’t very deep, but they are talented at the top. Voyles is the defending sectional champion in the 400 meters and the pole vault. She also finished fourth in the sectional in the 300 hurdles and was second in the regional in the pole vault. Horvath is one of the area’s best distance runners and proved it last year with a sectional crown in the 3,200. Christman, Schrader and Clemons should have a strong season in the sprinting events.
HIMMELHAVER SAYS: “This year we have the core of our team returning, and hope to build on the success of this group from last year.”
