Mar 4, 2011 By The Greene County Messenger 4 min read

California and its brand new track facility join Beth-Center, Brownsville, Frazier, Jefferson-Morgan, Waynesburg Central and West Greene in Section 6-AA track and field competition this season. The top two teams in each section advance to the WPIAL team playoffs. Following are preview capsules of Greene County’s three teams (Waynesburg Central has a separate girls and boys coach).

?Key dates include: Thursday, March 31, opening Class AA meets; Thursday, April 28, Section 6-AA Individual Championships; Wednesday, May 4, Class AAA/AA team semifinals; Tuesday, May 10, Class AAA/AA individual qualifiers; Thursday, May 12, Class AAA/AA team championships; Thursday, May 19, WPIAL Class AAA/AA Individual Championships (at Baldwin); and Friday-Saturday, May 27-28, PIAA Class AAA/AA Individual Championships (at Shippensburg University).

Jefferson-Morgan Rockets

The coach: John Tennant

In a word (or two): Replacing Hans Lubich

Jumps/pole vault: Lubich graduated after a stellar career, especially in the high jump. Amanda Hobe looks to advance to the next level this season in both the long and triple jumps. Milton Sibanda competed in the section qualifiers last year in the long jump.

Sprints/hurdles: Good, young speed in Ashley Faddis, Chris Shaw and Jaden Grandel.

Distance: Tough events for the Rockets without a cross country feeder program.

Throws: A work in progress.

Keys to victory: Week-to-week improvement, preparing for the big meets in May.

Waynesburg Central Raiders

The coach: Scott Litwinovich

In a word (or two): New coach

Jumps/pole vault: Sam Martin is the Raiders’ top shot at points in the high jump and Michael Schwarz and Ryan Cole are expected to be point-getters in the long and triple jumps. Cole will also pole vault.

Sprints/hurdles: “Young, looking for someone,” is how Litwinovich described where the Raiders are in these disciplines entering the season.

Distance: Noah Moore and Gage Griffin are going to run anywhere from the 800 to the 3,200, while Litwinovich is moving Allan Frye up to the 400 and the 1,600 relay.

Throws: The strength of the Raiders with Matt Lofiego and Kevin McDowell competing in the shot put and discus, with Daniel Davis doing all three throwing events.

Coachspeak: “The schedule is pretty decent. We only have one meet a week, so that gives us some time for training, a lot of good practice time and time to heal up,” said Litwinovich.

Keys to victory: Taking advantage of the schedule so Litwinovich and his staff can prepare his squad for the meat of the schedule.

Waynesburg Central Lady Raiders

The coach: Jeff Coss

In a word (or two): Young, but proven

Jumps/pole vault: Marissa Kalsey is the two-time WPIAL gold medalist in the pole vault, keeping the WPIAL medal-winning string alive in the event. Brittany Blair-Martin gives the Lady Raiders a rare 1-2 punch in the pole vault. Nikki Augustine was a WPIAL finalist in the triple jump and also performs in the long jump. Robi Arbogast will high jump.

Sprints/hurdles: Anna Artosky is the top sprinter and will run both the 100 and 200. Ashley Cole is expected to score points in the 100 high hurdles.

Distance: Peyton Hampson comes off a strong cross country season last fall and is poised for big success in the 400 and 800. Janelle Bernosky also had a strong cross country season and will handle the 1,600 and 3,200.

Throws: Jen and Emily Phillips will throw both the shot put and discus, while Rachelle Tharp will handle the javelin chores.

Coachspeak: “Wherever the girls are needed to compete, they’re willing to do so,” said Coss, in his first season as head coach.

Keys to victory: Taking advantage of the Lady Raiders’ strengths in the jumps, pole vault and distance, and developing points from the other disciplines.

West Greene Pioneers

The coach: Frank Hunter

In a word (or two): Sonneborn’s improvement

Jumps/pole vault: Tough bill to fill without a track to call their own.

Sprints/hurdles: Young hopefuls Hailie Kreuzer, Jessica Black and Adam Petit look to build on last season’s success.

Distance: Mikayla Sonneborn won a WPIAL medal in the 1,600 last year and is coming off a strong cross country season.

Throws: Usually a strength for the Pioneers, Dakota Usher threw both the shot put and discus last year as a junior. Devon Pierson was the top javelin thrower. Veronica Klein was the Lady Pioneers’ top hope in the discus.

Keys to victory: Advancing many athletes to the WPIAL Championships.