Boost in numbers gives Ross track teams optimism for 2019 season

FREMONT – The Fremont Ross track and field teams have a big problem.

Only it’s not really a problem. It’s just both teams are big. Really big.

Though Fremont Ross’ Pay to Participate program was terminated last summer, perhaps no program has benefitted from its elimination more than the track and field programs. The ranks of both boys and girls teams have swelled to the low and mid 60s, respectively.

Finding uniforms for everyone was a challenge that required finding three different sets, and some of the newcomers, particularly the throwers for the boys team, were simply just too large for what was available.

Then there are the practices, which can look to have the feel of semi-organized chaos.

Whatever challenges are presented by the sheer numbers, however, are problems the coaches are all too happy to deal with.

“This is how it is,” said boys head coach John Elder. “I don’t even remember (ever having such a large team). It’s actually been pretty good. It’s kind of nice.”

Along with the return of several prominent athletes to their respective events, the Little and Lady Giants will enjoy increased depth across the board in building for the future. At times, however, balancing the needs of the established performers with those just beginning their careers can be a challenge, particularly for girls head coach Travis Bates, who is also the throwing coach who finds himself with a large squad of athletes in the shot put and discus.

“It’s a lot of chaos at times. Managing all this group out here, trying to teach a technical event, it makes it kind of tough,” Bates said. “I want to give the young kids a chance but I also, with the guys I know, Mike (Thomas) and Jason (Burling), Emma (Jahns) and Olivia (Baptista), they could do very well this year, I know what they’re capable of and it’s getting them to that.”

Both Burling and Jahns qualified for last season’s regional meet in the shot put, with Burling also qualifying in the discus. Baptista and Marissa Overmyer as well as Thomas and Dontrez Brown add to Ross’ throwing depth.

Field events are a strength across the board for both teams. Bryce McKinstry and Olivia DeRodes each won TRAC championships in the high jump and return with high expectations for their senior years as McKinstry qualified for the regional meet and DeRodes was Ross’ lone athlete to qualify for the Division I state meet where she finished 12th.

The pole vault finds the return of both Keaton Jordan for the boys and AnneMarie Moses for the girls. Moses won the TRAC and district championships as a junior last year before a disappointing finish in the regional cut short her bid to return to the state meet she’d qualified for as a sophomore. But, if Moses’ performance at the indoor state meet earlier this month is any indication, she’s moved on from that setback, finishing second in the state.

“With what she did at the indoor state meet, coming through, she is vaulting with a lot of confidence,” Bates said. “She just had fun and I think found her confidence, I think she kind of lost it last year. She’s one of those kids that I want it more for her than I do anybody because she’s spent so much time and put so much into it and she’s an awesome human being. I think she’s going to have fun and have a good season.”

The running events will also be strong for both boys and girls.

The boys corps of distance runners will be led by juniors Ethan McClory, Zach Edmonds and Jayden Scott.

Andrew Born, who battled injuries last year as a sophomore, will be one of the Little Giants’ top sprinters, and Elder is looking to him to fill the void left in the hurdling by the graduation of Devyn Jagodzinski. Ivan and Evan Starkweather and Ka’Von Martin also return for the Little Giants’ running events and will be joined by freshman Jonathan Martin, from whom Elder is hoping for solid contribution.

The Little Giants, however, are lacking a true speedster for the 100-meter dash as well as a long jumper.

“We don’t have that 100-meter guy like Whitmer has or St. Ignatius has,” Elder said. “We have a lot of 400 guys. What can you do? Andrew is probably the closest we have to that 100 guy, but we think he’s more of a hurdler.”

Sprinters isn’t a problem the girls team. Bates will look to returning sprinters Jazzele Lindsey and Kimora Rapp, though Rapp is nursing an early-season hamstring injury. Bates is also hoping to see freshman Briana Morrisette mature quickly as she adjusts from dominating middle school meets to being in more competitive varsity races.

“Briana Morrisette has a lot of speed, a lot of talent,” Bates said. “We just have to get her to work on her work ethic and ‘want-to’. She’s got it, it’s just a matter of finding it.”

The middle-distance runs will be led by junior McKela Elder, who has her sights set on the school record of 2:17.62 in the 800.

“She’s just phenomenal,” Bates said of Elder. “After swim season, her fitness level is really high. She could blow that record out of the water. I think she’s capable of running a 2:15.”

Bates is still looking for a hurdler but is hopeful his long-running recruitment of junior Hayley Lawrence may pay off for the long jump.

“I’ve been trying to get her to come out since she was a freshman,” Bates said. “She’s got a lot of athleticism that I think can help us out, in the long jump and short sprint relays, maybe the 100 dash.”

The track teams kick off the spring season as they begin Saturday morning at the Troy Invite. While both Bates and Elder are optimistic for a memorable season, both are wishing their athletes had more time to prepare before the season began.

“We’re not anywhere close to being ready,” Bates said. “With the weather we’ve had and some people of kind of ill and injured and a little banged up, we’re not even close to ready, but that’s OK.”