Friday, February 14, 2025

Bay Rivers District Indoor Track Preview: Lafayette Boys, Girls Favored to Top District

Lafayette's Michael Tyler will lead a talented Lafayette boys team. (file photo)
Lafayette’s Michael Tyler will lead a talented Lafayette boys team. (File Photo)

Lafayette once again looks to be the premier indoor track and field program in the Bay Rivers District.

The Lafayette boys took home a state championship in last year’s Group 3A indoor meet, while the girls took second place. With a plethora of talent returning this year, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Lafayette once again rise to the top.

And while Lafayette is the only Historic Triangle school to challenge for a state championship in Group 3A or 4A — Bruton will be one of the top teams in Group 2A — there is still plenty of individual talent on each team.

Lafayette’s Audrey Hurley and Tabb’s Maya Hanks are both coming off state championships in their respective events, while multiple other local athletes are coming off top-three finishes in their events from last season.

With such a talented crop of athletes, this year’s indoor track season look to be an exciting one.

Below are preview for every Historic Triangle indoor track and field team:

Group 4A
Grafton

Head Coach: Gary Haigh
2015 Classification: 4A Conference 18
Athletes to Watch: Madison Baskin (high jump, 300m), Samantha Wanderer (500m, 1000m, 1600m, 3200m), Emily Wood (shot put), Miles Owens (1600m, 3200m), Price Owens (1000m, 1600m, 3200m), Dylan Lorio-MacNamara (500m, 1000m, 1600m, 3200m), Tavares Noel (high jump, 300m)

Season Outlook: Both Grafton’s girls and boys teams have strong individual athletes who could make runs at placing in the Group 4A state meet this season. The Grafton girls are coming off a top-10 finish in the 2015 state meet and return Wanderer, a sophomore who finished fifth in the 1,000-meter run. The Grafton girls also return Wood, who projects to be one of the best shot putters in the Bay Rivers District. On the boys side, the Clippers have an abundance of talent from the middle-to-upper distance events. With the Owens brothers, Miles and Price, and Lorio-MacNamara competing in many of the same events, the odds are in Grafton’s favor of one of them having a quality run in the state meet. Additionally, the Clippers return Noel, who was the Group 4A runner up in the high jump last season. Grafton likely does not have the depth to win district meets, but they will be a top-tier team this season.

Lafayette

Head Coach: Mel Jones
2015 Classification: 4A Conference 18
Athletes to Watch: Audrey Hurley (55m, 300m, 500m), Brooke Crookston (500m, 1000m, pole vault), Selena Jones (55m hurdles, long jump, triple jump, high jump), Michael Tyler  (55m hurdles, high jump, long jump, triple jump), Tyler Jump (shot put), Cade Moreno (1000m, 1600m, 3200m)

Season Outlook: Lafayette’s boys indoor track team is coming off a Group 3A state championship from last season, but will feel the losses of Konrad Steck, Andrew Loper, Micah Canaday and Derrick Harris. A key returner for the Rams is Moreno, who gives some stability in the long-distance running events. Field events once again look to be a strong suit for Lafayette with Tyler poised to thrive in the jumping events and Jump looking to be one of the best throwers in the Bay Rivers District. Lafayette’s girls are hoping to take a step up from last season’s runner-up finish at the state meet. Hurley, the defending Group 3A state champion in the 500-meter dash, returns to lead what should be a formidable Rams team. Crookston is also back after placing second in the 1,000-meter run last season. Additionally, Jones seems poised to hold down the jumping duties for Lafayette and should be competitive throughout the postseason. In both boys and girls competitions, Lafayette will be the clear favorite among Bay Rivers District teams.

Jamestown

Head Coach: Dan Schlickenmeyer
2015 Classification: 4A Conference 18
Athletes to Watch: Anya Keurajian (300m, 500m), Kathleen Yates (1,000m, 1600m, 3200m, high jump), Lauren Connell (55m, 300m, 500m, high jump, long jump), Jordan Turner (55m, 300m, long jump, triple jump), Jordan Willis (300m, 500m, high jump, long jump, triple jump), Daniel Napolitano (1000m, 1600m 3200m)

Season Outlook: Jamestown’s indoor track team finds itself in a position to be slightly above average this season, but out of reach of the top-tier teams in the Bay Rivers District. Both Jamestown athletes to place in the Group 4A state meet last year – Jordan Gravelle and Paul Keurajian – have graduated and left the Eagles looking to new faces for points. One familiar face is Yates, who will hold down the distance running events on the girls side. Anya Keurajian and Connell will tag team the sprinting events and keep the Eagles competitive at that distance. On the boys side, Napolitano returns as a veteran running in the longer distances and is poised to have a good season in district meets. Willis and Turner both have similar skill sets and provide Jamestown with depth in the sprinting and jumping events. Jamestown projects to be just outside the top three teams in the district this season.

Group 3A
Warhill

Head Coach: Bill Napolitano
2015 Classification: 3A Conference 25
Athletes to Watch: Hannah Hrncir (1000m, 1600m, 3200m), Akira Wallace (55m, 300m, long jump), Matthew Hrncir (300m, 1000m, 1600m, 3200m), Ruben Davila (300m, 500m), Daniel Cretney (1000m, 1600m, 3200m), Nathan Tirak (shot put)

Season Outlook: Both Warhill indoor teams are coming off top-10 finishes in the Group 3A state meet, but could be set to take a step back this season. The boys team will struggle to cope with the loss of Christopher Short, who finished 14th in the 800-meter dash during the New Balance Nationals Indoor in March. Replacing Short is Matthew Hrncir and Cretney, both of whom are capable runners at the longer distances and middle distances as needed. Tirak will provide a big lift for the Lions in the shot put as one of the best throwers in the Bay Rivers District. On the girls side, Hannah Hrncir will provide a veteran presence in the longer distances and will be one of the better distance runners in the district. Wallace will be one of Warhill’s stronger sprinters and should make a deep postseason run. Both Warhill teams should compete for top-three spots in the district.

Tabb

Head Coach: Lucas Brown
2015 Classification: 3A Conference 27
Athletes to Watch: Maya Hanks (55m, long jump, triple jump), Lauren Blanks (1000m, 1600m, 3200m), Emma Sears (shot put, pole vault, triple jump), Allen Blair (55m, 300m, long jump, triple jump, high jump), Preston Klekar (1000m, 1600m, 3200m)

Season Outlook: Tabb was the top Group 4A Historic Triangle indoor track team last season with the girls placing sixth at states and the boys taking seventh. This year, Tabb once again looks to be the top team locally in Group 3A. The Tigers return Hanks, the defending state champion in the triple jump, who also excels at the long jump and 55-meter dash. Blanks is also a key returner for Tabb, providing a strong presence in the long-distance events. Sears is a versatile athlete in field competition who has established herself as one of the better throwers in the Bay Rivers District. On the boys side, Blair is going to be Tabb’s most consistent point earner. With a proficiency in the 55- and 300-meter dash, as well as all three jumping events, Blair is almost certain to be headed to the state meet this season. Klekar provides Tabb with a stable runner in the distance events, which will be key if the Tigers want to place well in the state meet.

York

Head Coach: Jim Bradley
2015 Classification: 3A Conference 27
Athletes to Watch: Megan Gingery (55m, 300m, long jump, triple jump), Moira Thomson (55m, 300m), Ryan Born (55m, 55m hurdles, 300m, 500m), Dulani Horton (55m, 300m)

Season Outlook: With one of the smallest rosters in the Bay Rivers District, York’s boys and girls indoor track and field teams will find it hard to compete as a team this season. There are a few bright spots, however. Gingery is coming off a successful outdoor track season last year and has developed into one of the top triple jumpers and long jumpers in the area. She will also be competitive in the 55-meter dash and 300-meter dash this year. Thomson, a freshman, is young and relatively inexperienced but is already showing promise in the sprinting events. It will take some time for her to get up to speed, but she should be earning top-10 finishes in district meets by the end of the season. Born is the most established runner on the boys side, making the 55-meter hurdle prelims in last year’s indoor state meet. He will once again look to be one of the better hurdlers, but also one of the better 500-meter dash runners as well. Horton will also provide depth to the sprinting events for York in the 55- and 300-meter dash.

Group 2A
Bruton

Head Coach: Mark Tompkins
2015 Classification: 2A Conference 33
Athletes to Watch: Clara Wincheski (1000m, 1600m, 3200m), Sarah Tracy (55m, 300m), Rachel Brotherton (500m, 1000m, 1600m), Joshua Carter (55m, 300m), Curt Ivanoff (1000m, 1600m, 3200m), David Danek (high jump)

Season Outlook: Were Bruton a larger school, the Panthers would likely be a top-three indoor track program this season. Both the boys and girls teams have the talent necessary to win district events, but the Panthers simply lack the top-to-bottom depth to compete as a team. On the girls side, Wincheski is hands down the top distance runner in the Bay Rivers District, especially in the 3200-meter run. Tracy is a young sprinter, but is already showing promise in the 55-meter dash and 300-meter dash. Brotherton is also a solid runner for Bruton, holding down the middle distance events and the 1,600-meter run. On the boys side, Carter is a well-rounded sprinter in the 55- and 300-meter dash and will likely hover around top-five finishes in district meets. Ivanoff is Bruton’s top distance runner and will earn points in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter run. Danek, a specialist high jumper who also plays basketball for Bruton, will give the Panthers a lift as one of the top jumpers in the area.

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