The Comets have a rather small squad in 2006 due to the fact coach Dawn Harvey has no freshmen on the team, but they suffered only minimal losses to graduation.

“Unfortunately there’s going to be times when we have to put people in places they don’t want to be,” Harvey said, “but it’s all about doing what’s good for the team and about doing your best.”

Senior Kasey Kemp represents the bulk of the returning 2005 sectional points. She was second in the shot put and fifth in the discus. Kemp will pull double-duty, playing softball as well as participating in track and field.

Other seniors back include Jessica Muscari, who was fourth in the 800 meters at the Madison-Grant Sectional, and Holly Graber, who runs the 200 and 400 meters and the 4x400 relay. Muscari runs the 4x400 and the 4x800.

Junior Jamie Fansler is back to run hurdles and the 4x100 relay, junior Shannon Williams returns in the 200, 4x100 and 4x400, and classmate Kyrsti Wise could be found anywhere from the 200 meters to pole vault or discus.

“The thing about having such a small team is you have holes in your event list, so I’ve got a bunch of girls with excellent attitudes who are willing to fill a hole anywhere I need them,” Harvey said. “[Kyrsti] is one of those who will fill a hole anywhere I ask her to.”

Sophomore Autumn McDonald is new to track and runs sprints and high jumps around 4 feet, 8 inches. She’s joined by sophomore holdovers Emily Rethlake (sixth in sectional 1,600), Danielle Stiner (fifth in sectional pole vault), Danielle Martin (sprints, long jump), Jessica Graber (400, hurdles, 4x400) and Amanda Dean (800, 4x800).

With such low numbers and high expectations around the county and conference, Harvey knows her Comets will struggle as a team at times.

“I’ve got girls who can win county, I’ve got girls who will contend and go after records, but as team we know it’s going to be rough for us,” said Harvey.

Kokomo

After 11 straight sectional titles, the Wildkats came up short in 2005, finishing third behind Taylor and Maconaquah at Madison-Grant.

“Taylor and Maconaquah were very talented teams,” said coach Bobby Pettigrew. “[Taylor’s] been working hard every year like we have, so we lost to a good team.”

Pettigrew does have a talented group returning that could lead Kokomo back to the top, including three sectional winners from last season as well as Adrienne Shepherd.

Shepherd, a junior, was injured in 2005 after finishing third in both the 400 and 800 meters as a freshman. She and Nicky Parry, both of whom were part of the successful Kokomo cross country team in the fall, lead the middle and long distances.

“Nicky Parry looks strong and focused and Adrienne Shepherd is picking it up,” Pettigrew said. “It’s just a matter of getting everyone in shape and getting them working more.”

Juniors Courtney Smith-Powell (400) and Courtney Cardwell (100 hurdles) and senior Kristin Pratt (shot put) all return as sectional champions. Jaime McCarter returns in the hurdles, Tunisia Douglas, Kayla Drake, newcomer Najahi Strayhorn and senior Keisha Smith-Powell add depth in the sprints, and sophomore Litxia Miranda runs middle distance.

Pole vaulter Lindsey Preston this spring has already matched her 2005 third-place sectional height of 7 feet, 6 inches. She’s joined in the field events by returnees Mashilah Powell (high jump) and Natalie Evans (long jump).

Pratt is backed up in the throws by Alexis Stamper, Mercedes McGovern, Jshanien Minor and Brianna Glover.

“We have to be ready to compete after we get in shape,” said Pettigrew. “If we do that and stay away from injury, we’ll be fine.”

Northwestern

Unlike their male counterparts, the Tiger girls welcome back nine of their top 10 scorers from 2005, making them a threat to improve their fifth-place sectional finish a year ago.

“I was happy with the girls results last year in the sectional because they went out and performed very well in their biggest meet of the year,” said coach Peter Schroer. “That’s something they can bring into this year and have a little more confidence in what they’re doing.”

Sophomore Megan Schubert was a state qualifier a year ago as she won the sectional high jump. She is trying her hand at pole vault this spring as well as running hurdles as she did in 2005.

Seniors Gayle Brunner and Lauren Sewell should be stabilizing forces for Northwestern. Brunner placed in both sectional hurdles races last year, and Sewell — a cross country standout — was second in the 3,200 meters. In addition to the hurdles, Brunner will man both sprint relays, and Sewell runs the 1,600 and the 4x800 relay.

“[Brunner] is just a great worker and a great kid to be around,” Schroer said. “She and Lauren Sewell are two of the steadiest type people you would want to have leading a track team.”

Junior Audrey Gaither was the county champion in the 100 meters and was third in sectional. Schroer calls her “very capable anywhere from 100 to 400.”

Sophomore Lindsey Sewell has already bettered her sixth-place sectional time of 2005 with a couple 63-second runs in the 400 this spring. Classmate Jennifer Claudio returns in the 1,600, where she was third in sectional a year ago.

Senior Kasia Rada runs the 4x800 relay and the 1,600, and senior Rachel Atchison throws discus and pole vaults. Jackie Combs runs middle distance and puts the shot. Lauren Giesecke throws discus, Becky Lowden long jumps and runs the 200, and Amy Harshman high jumps.

“If we get a balanced conference meet or a balanced sectional meet, it helps us because we’re not that deep,” said Schroer. “When we get into conference and sectional our chances improve because I think our best can compete with anybody’s best.”

Western

Not only are the Panthers trying to recover from an uncharacteristic fourth-place MIC finish and a seventh-place sectional finish in 2005, they’re adjusting to a new coaching staff that includes co-coaches Joni McCracken and Heather Yentez and assistant Tara Yentez.

“The girls are doing a good job of adjusting to the new program,” said McCracken. “My expectations of the girls are extremely high, and they have stepped up to that challenge.”

As evidence of Western’s commitment to success, the Panthers this spring have beaten Northwestern and defending sectional champ Taylor in dual meets.

“[Beating Taylor] was a huge win for us,” McCracken said. “I know they graduated some seniors, but our girls did look good. They went out there to win.”

One harbinger of improvement should come in the distance events where Annina Gruber returns after missing last season’s sectional with a back injury. The IPFW-bound senior won the 800 and 1,600 meters races two years ago. Gruber also led this season’s cross country team to a sixth-place semistate finish, and four of the top five runners join her on the track, including freshmen Jenn Elliott and Lacey Myer and senior Cassie Myer.

Vanessa Lorenz and Jessica Pease round out the distance events, and Lacey Myer could be put anywhere, according to McCracken, including the 400 meters. Move-in Madi Briscoe runs the 800 along with Kiley Camp. Megan Legan was seventh in the sectional 400 last season.

Brain teasers Rachel A. Smith, a senior, and Rachel L. Smith, a junior, return in the sprints, joined by freshmen Heather Power and Cara Earlywine. Junior Lauren Keyton focuses on the 100-meter hurdles, where she was sixth at sectional a year ago. Keyton also runs the 300, where classmate Liz Hoppes was sixth in 2005. Three new girls, freshmen Nikki McCracken and Kathleen Markawicz and senior Lynn Polk, along with junior Vanessa Aders, add depth.

Megan Legan and twin sister Morgan join Aders as mainstays in the jumps. Aders was second in the 2005 sectional long jump and fifth in the high jump, and Morgan was eighth in the long jump. Senior Lacy Parrish high jumps and classmate Lynn Polk long jumps.

Nicole Jackson, Cassie Myer and Rachel A. Smith handle the pole vaulting chores, and throwers include sophomore Lizi Chandler (second, sectional discus), sophomore Ashley Hudson and freshmen Kristin Teidemen and Mary Harbaugh.