The Carthage High School girls track and field squad features 55 total athletes, 16 returning athletes, and 20 newcomers for head coach Nicole Sipes.
“The girls have been really focused and motivated in their practices so far this season,” Sipes told SoMo Sports. “There has been a lot of mentoring by upperclassmen and returning athletes with our incoming freshman group. They are really leading by example. Newcomers are excited and challenged by learning new things and competing at a high level. There has been great positivity and motivation by the group as a whole.
“We are very optimistic for our upcoming season and have been working hard to carry on the tradition of our successful track and field program. We are very excited about our large turnout of athletes joining our team this year and hope our numbers and hard work ethic will help us compete at a high level. We have several experienced upperclassmen and a talented sophomore group who will lead by example for our competitive freshman group coming out this year.”
Carthage’s returners are seniors Lilly Homes (throws, sectional qualifier), Maddy Lee (throws), and Joey Hettinger (jumps, district champ and state qualifier in high jump last season, signed with Central Missouri for track and field), juniors Trisha Kanas (sprints, jumps) and Jenna Wilson (distance), and sophomores Karlie Nichols (throws), Millie Templeman (jumps), Ashlyn Brust (sprints, sectional qualifier), Lexa Youngblood (sprints, sectional qualifier), Aven Willis (sprints, sectional qualifier), Jaidyn Brunnert (hurdles), Jordyn Childs (throws), Maggie Boyd (distance, sectional qualifier), Grace Brown (distance, sectional qualifier), Katy Witherspoon (distance) and Kailyn Shultz (sprints).
The Tigers also feature a large group of promising newcomers, including sophomore Lauren Choate (mid-distance, jumps).
“We had a huge turnout of girls come out this year,” Sipes said. “Great for the program. As always our team goals are to win our home meets, conference and district and qualify as many as possible to sectionals and state. Individually, we want every kid to improve, whether she is the No. 1 in that event or the No. 10. The great thing about track and field is that everyone can participate, and in some way, she can contribute to the team.
“Stay healthy, be unselfish and accept what is best for the good of the team and work hard every single day. If we accomplish those things, we will be competitive. Our focus this year is getting better every day. The rest will take care of itself.”
The Tigers opened their 2023 season Wednesday by winning McDonald County’s Ebenee Munoz Memorial Stampede with 197.5 team points, 63.5 more points than runner-up Monett.
Youngblood won individual titles in the 100-meter dash (12.71 seconds) and the 400 (1:02) and participated in the 4×100 (52.22) and the 4×400 (4:21).
Hettinger (long jump), Karlie Nichols (discus), Holmes (shot put), and Boyd (1600) also won individual titles in their respective events.
The 4×200 and the 4×800 also finished second, as did Brunnert in the triple jump and the 100 hurdles, Hettinger in the high jump, Katy Witherspoon in the 3200, and Karlie Nichols in the shot put.
Brunnert finished third in the 300 hurdles, Willis placed third in the 200, and Carrol also finished third in the high jump.
Carthage’s schedule continues with the Carthage Invitational (March 30), Parkview Girls Night Out (April 5), Joplin Invitational (April 12), KU Relays (April 14-15), the Carl Junction Invitational (April 21), and the Girard Invitational (April 28).
The Tigers have the Central Ozark Conference meet (April 24), the Class 5 District 6 meet (May 13), sectionals (May 20), and possibly state (May 26-27) to close out their season.
