Fourth-year coach Gene Lebron has enjoyed coaching a very talented Ithaca girls track team this spring.
“We’ve broken quite a few records,” said Lebron.
As of mid-May, the Yellowjackets had broken four records. Records have fallen in the 3200-meter relay, the 800-meter relay, and the 400-meter relay. The 400-meter relay record had stood since 1988. Brianne Draper has broken the school record in the 100-meter dash.
The 3200-meter relay features two freshmen and two sophomores, Courtney Allen, Kurstin Kalisek, Amelia Freestone, and Blaire Showers.
“It’s a deep middle distance field that I have,” Lebron said.
The 800-meter relay team includes Draper, Mikala Fairchild, Emily Foster, and Erica Sheahan, and the 400-meter relay has Fairchild, Draper, Sheahan, and Vanessa Waldron.
“Mid-Michigan is so tough in track,” Lebron said. “We have a really good team. But St. Louis is in our league. We’ve gone undefeated this year in dual meets, except against them. So we were 8-1. Our only loss was to St. Louis. For invitationals, we’ve been in the top two or three basically every invitational we’ve gone to. There are times once again that we’ve been second and St. Louis has been first.
“There’s just so many good track and field teams in this area. It’s tough to get into a meet in this area and bring home a championship.”
But before the season ends, the Yellowjackets have some lofty goals to achieve, one of which is to do well in the conference championship meet against St. Louis.
“They’re a tough team, but they make us better,” Lebron said.
The regionals came before the conference meet, and the Jackets were confident of sending a good number of athletes to the state finals. Pewamo-Westphalia, the defending Division 3 state champion, was slated to be at Ithaca’s regional, with many of its athletes returning from a year ago.
“This year, I’m hoping to get all of our relays there and several individuals,” Lebron said. “Draper, and whatever sprinting event we put her in, should make it. Erica Sheehan, and whatever event we put her in, should make it. My distance runners should advance in individual events.”
Lebron has enjoyed depth in Ithaca’s attack this season. “In the last few years, we’ve been strong in the distances,” he said. “We’ve had all-staters. We have a strong contingent of sprinters. We picked up a sprinter from Beal City, Erica Sheehan. Brianne is a battle-tested veteran. We’ve put together solid sprint relays.
“Where we’ve struggled is in field events. We’ve getting better there. We do have a pretty good all-around team. If there’s a weakness, it would be the field events.”
But when all is said and done, Lebron is confident this could be his best team at Ithaca.