Chester County girls track athletes look to run in fast lane this spring

The Chester County high school girls track scene features a deep lineup of many talented athletes this spring, including the 2021 Daily Local News Girls Track Athlete of the Year, West Chester Rustin junior Ava Alexander, who took home gold in the triple jump at States last spring. Here’s a look at the top athletes on the area’s girls track & field teams:
Avon Grove finished second in the Ches-Mont League last spring, and should be strong again this year. Key returnees include senior Annika Pfaff (1600 meter run, 3200 meter run), senior Olivia Heckman (high jump, long jump, shot put, javelin) and senior Payton Smith (300 hur-dles, 4×100, 4×400). Other girls to watch include sophomore Eden Veenema (triple jump, 400 meter run, 4×400) and junior Paige Clark (400 meter run, 4×400).
Red Devil coach Eric Broadbent said, “We brought three relays and an athlete in an open event to indoor states this past winter season, and we have a few seniors that have been to districts and states in various events that have scored quite a few points for us at Ches-Monts. In addition to them, we have a more well-rounded team and will score points in every event area. Our team is the largest it’s been in the last eight years.”
Bishop Shanahan, who was 2-4 in the ChesMont league and placed 8th at the Championship meet last spring, have several key returning per-formers. Senior Ava Ceulers qualified for Districts in three events last year – the long jump, 100m, and 4×100 relay. Senior Elizabeth Wolfe led off the 4×100 relay team and promises to be a solid point scorer in the high jump. Senior Carlyn Segrave-Daly is coming off an All-ChesMont and state-qualifying cross-country season and will compete in the middle distance events. Sophomore Meghan Willis, who placed 8th in the 800 at ChesMonts as a freshman and 16th at the ChesMont XC championships this past fall, will compete in the middle distance events.
Bishop Shanahan girls coach Mark Schmidt said, “Our team’s main strengths are depth at all the events and a group of underclassman that are eager to work hard and learn.”
Coatesville head coach Rebecca Eberly said, “Our team will shine in both the long jump, triple jump, sprints and relays.”
The Raiders look for senior Leann Grier, senior Lauren Reed, junior Chloe Domurat, junior Raysia Perry Deveaux, freshman Kira Doran and senior Lorelei Eberly to shine in the 100-400 meter sprints, and both relays.
Lorelei Eberly has already achieved the all-time best and school record in the long jump with a distance of 18’ 2.25”. She will also be performing in the Penn Relays in the same event. She will also compete in the triple jump as well as the 100-400 meter runs. Doran has reached 16’9” in the long jump.
“We are expecting some great things from [Doran],” said Rebecca Eberly. “She’s a former gymnast, her versatility is amazing, and we look forward to the next four years with her.”
Senior Anastasia van der Steur is predicted to jump 5’3” this season (her best as of late March is 5’1”). Junior pole vaulter Faith Stewart has reached 9 feet indoors and is looking to hit at least 10 feet this spring season.
Conestoga head coach Mark Carberry said, “We’re very fortunate to have strengths in most disciplines – distance, mid-distance, sprints, high jump, and pole vault. With multiple state championship qualifiers and state medalists on the roster, we hope to push our senior class to the highest levels of our sport. We saw a high level of success last spring and hope to continue that momentum.”
Key returnees include senior Molly Ryle (800 meter run, 1600 meter run, 3200 meter run), senior Bridget O’Mara (pole vault), senior Kristen Lavallee (high jump), junior Mary Pealer (high jump), senior Abby Klebe (400, 800), senior Brynn Forge (400 meter run) and senior Karis Blagden (800 meter run).
Other Pioneers to watch include junior Julia Harris (800, 1600, 3200), sophomore Lila Ziegler (long jump), sophomore Tory Gauthier (100, 200), sophomore Harley Karbiner (100, 200) and freshman Lizzie Gares (1600, 3200).
Downingtown East, which finished fourth at the Ches-Mont Champion-ship Meet last spring, has a solid lineup of distance runners, including Madison Brown, Jocelyn and Keira Moser, Adylee Laveyra, Emily Steinberg and Melanie Taylor. The Cougars are looking for Jenna Lacey and Ava Myers to improve from their impressive freshman year. The 4×400 relay with Olivia Binns, Nia Massey, Dinah Mukalian, Melanie Taylor and Olivia Dever, made it to the Indoor State Championship last winter. Katie Riley, Faith Fuqua, Kate Smith and Isis Young are the leading sprinters.
Junior hurdlers Keerthana Sujesh And Giovanna Jennings-Scott are coming off fine indoor seasons with appearances at indoor States. Giovanna Jenning-Scott should repeat as a district qualifier in the high jump. Veterans Anna Sardella, Hayley Hawk and Isis Young and newcomer Mackenzie Leuders should have an excellent season in the long jump.
Downingtown West, which posted a 6-0 record last spring, has a strong lineup of returning athletes, including senior Jada Alston (district champion in the 100 meter run last spring), junior Ryleigh Hearn (6th in the 400 meter run at PTFCA Indoor last winter), junior Carolyn Tarpley (was 5th at Districts in 3200 meter run last spring, also competes in 1600), junior Bridget Kiey (800, 1600) and junior Taylor Rochon (1600, 3200). Other Whippet athletes to watch include junior Paige Oskison (800, 1600), senior Savannah Shaw (800, 1600), junior Lily Henning (200, 400), junior Julia Marasco (200, 400) and Emma Compher (hurdles).
“After securing the Ches-Mont title last year, our team is motivated to repeat as champions,” said D-West coach Scott Burns. “They’ll need a few underclassman to step up, but the confidence is there.”
Great Valley will return seniors Kate Bevec, Erin Craig, Morgan Devine, Julia Dill, Ellie Matson and Gillian Yonce. The 4×400 relay team of Yonce, Stephanie Cristinzio, Briella Gorman and Dill hopes to build upon their fifth-place finish at the PTFCA Indoor Championships and 2021 outdoor district medal. The Patriots return juniors Kelli McKeown and Molly Otterson to the high jump and pole vault, respectively. McKeown is fresh off a trip to Indoor States and had an eighth-place finish at the 2021 district meet last spring.
The team will be supported by the distance efforts of Bevec, and a young 4x800m relay squad of Megha Iyer, Julie Cristinzio and freshmen Natalie Dill and Aimee Dill, who just missed the indoor state field.
Rachel Hubley will make a mark in her first spring season after a strong winter debut in the Indoor state qualifying 4×200 relay and the 60 meter dash. Shalya Bismark-Petit is back after a year off in the sprints and Sydney Phillips will compete in the triple jump and 300 meter hurdles after a strong winter season.
“We are a growing team and excited to kick off the competitive season,” said Great Valley coach Nicole Jones.
Kennett, which posted a 3-2 record last spring, will be led by junior Kirstin Hoffman (pole vault), junior Ella Burnham (800, 1600, 3200), senior Corrina Kley (800, 1600), senior Rhiannon Stewart (800, 1600), senior Kim Alvarez (400, 800), junior Clair Harper (400, 800), senior Amelia Houck (800, 1600), junior Audrey Sebastian (200, 400), senior Elise Arena (200, 400) and Melania Barnum Sargent (300 meter hurdles).
Other Blue Demons to watch for include sophomore Whitney Walker (800, 1600), freshman Charlotte Davies (400, 800), freshman Elyssa Henry (pole vault), freshman Sara Frey (pole vault) and sophomore Ar-mani Bowden (100, 200).
“Our team is much smaller this year and the seniors and freshmen make up 18 of the 33 roster spots,” said Kennett coach John Ramagano. “We’ll look to continue our success in the pole vault and middle distance that we had during our trip to Indoor States. Both of these groups have got stronger the last month and the new additions look to make us even stronger there.
“Kirstin Hoffman will be looking to get back to States in the pole vault to extend her streak to three consecutive seasons. The two freshmen vaulters will look to make Districts in their first year. Ella Burnham and newcomer Whitney Walker will look to make an individual placement at Districts, and help the 4×800 and 4×400 relay teams get there as well. Melania Barnum Sargent will try to recover from an injury in time to give it a run in the 300 hurdles, where she just missed a District spot last season.”
Oxford will be led by seniors Abby Oliver (800 meter run, mile run, two-mile run) and Anna Kline (high jump).
“We aim to be very competitive this season as we build the program,” said Oxford coach Trevor Haney.
Unionville should have a number of fine performers this spring, including senior Alex Pancoast (throws – has qualified for the last two state meets), senior Sarah Smith (distance), senior Orenda Lin (sprints) and senior Mia Beaudet (hurdler).
“Our team will be competitive and field big teams,” said Unionville coach Mark Lacianca.
Villa Maria Academy, which finished second at the AACA Championships last spring, has a number of fine returning athletes. Sophomore pole vaulter Maddy Kelley was one place shy of a state medal at last year’s state championship, and is coming off of an indoor state medal and All-American honors. Seniors Caroline Bell and Ryan Hickey will lead the distance team (400/800), senior Grace McHugh leads the jumps (triple and high) and senior Alexis Sapnas will contribute in the sprints and hurdles. Other Hurricanes to watch include freshman Claire Carroccio (jumps, sprints), junior Marin Rosser (javelin and discus) and sophomore Jill Stroup (discus and shot put).
“Our team looks strong this season,” said Villa Maria coach Frances McNally. “We are strong in a multitude of events which will help us come championship season.”
West Chester East returns sprinter Chinonye Moneme, who finished ninth in the 100 meter dash at the PIAA Class AAA state track champi-onships last spring and was 8th in the state indoor track championships last winter.
“Chinonye will be the anchor of the sprinter core this year,” said West Chester East girls coach Doug Costin.
Another key returnee for the Vikings is senior runner Sonia Piombino, who has competed in States (both outdoor and indoor) in the middle dis-tance and distance races since her freshman year.
“Big things will be expected from Sonia this year,” said Costin.
West Chester Henderson, which posted a 5-1 record last spring, has a solid lineup returning, including junior Weronica Ziemniak (mid-distance), senior Amanda Kelly (distance), senior Abby Martin (discus), junior Hilary Hoffman (sprints), senior Lucy Olsen (distance), sophomore Riley Bender (distance), sophomore Jen Kurisko (throws) and freshman Lindsey Hoffman (sprints, hurdles).
West Chester Rustin, which finished 5-0 last spring, will be looking forward to building off a successful winter season after placing second at the PTFCA State Championship Meet.
The Golden Knights are led by junior captain Ava Alexander, the two-time returning state champ and Indoor National Champ in the triple jump. Alexander also is the indoor state silver medalist in the long jump and bronze medalist in the 400 meter run. She will also run the 100 meter run, 200 meter run, 4×100 relay and 4×400 relay.
Junior captain Ellie Keefer will look to continue her success in the dis-tance races. She has previously placed fifth at the outdoor state meet in the 3200 meter run and fourth at the indoor state meet, as well as being a top 10 state finisher in cross country. Keefer will lead the team in the 1600 meter run and 3200 meter run and the 4×800.
Sophomore Maddie Miller (a 4×800 state medalist) looks to rebound from an injury during the winter season that limited her individual po-tential. She is a returning state qualifier in the 800 and will also run the 400 and 1600.
Also returning are our junior captains Keturah Darwon and Sidney Se-gullo. Segullo provides a depth and experience in the sprints (she’s a two-time returning state medalist in the sprint relays.) Darwon was also on the 4×200 relay that medalled indoors and will be leading the team in the hurdles and high jump.
Seniors Julie Blazey and captain Chloe Mattie will provide leadership and experience in the throws and have aspirations of making the state meet, and senior Lindsey Volkman (state medalist in the 4×800) will be providing depth in the distance races.
Sophomores Brooke Kruger (sprints/pole vault) and Bri Ambro-sine(distance) and junior captain Hannah Betchyk (distance) are also returning state medalist that will look to continue their success into the spring.
Rustin girls coach Jim Collins said, “The best thing about our team is well balanced and the girls really work hard to compete every day. We are still a relatively young team that is just looking to continue to grow off of our recent success.”