In Kelly Williams’ seventh season as head coach, she has been having fun with her DeWitt girls track and field team.
“We have several returning athletes from last year’s state meet, including our relays and our 100 state champ,” Williams said. “We’ve been doing pretty well. We’re in a little bit of a rebuilding year. As the weather gets better, we’re going to see some times drop.”
Josie Yesmunt is back as a senior after winning the 100-meter dash in 12.18 seconds in the state meet last year.
The hurdles also remain a strong event. “We’re getting to five or six in the big invites,” said Williams, noting that Amber Koenigsknecht has been leading the way.
Distance runners performing well for DeWitt include Shelby Watterson and Emily Murdoch. Middle distance aces are Madison Slater and Jordan Lee.
Strong regional and state performances are a goal for the Panthers. “We certainly do well in the relays, all four of our relays,” Williams said. “We do well in our sprints, our 800. We have a good hurdler, a good high jumper, throwers. Our distances have been doing well.
“We’re not as deep [as last year’s team]. We have each event covered, but not as deep. I don’t think we’re quite as strong. It took us longer to get going this year. We’re where I expected us to be.
“We picked up a couple of seniors that have helped us a lot. In the high jump, we picked up Hannah Stoll, who is a basketball player and will be at the next level. Audra Kimble in the distances, she came out and she’s a senior. She’s definitely helped us.”
The Panthers girls’ team jumped out to a 3-1 start on the year.
Bob Acre is the boys coach.
Senior Blake Smith, headed for Cornell University next year, has been leading the way in the 100- and the 200-meter dashes. “We were at indoor meets at Grand Valley and Michigan State, and he won the 100 at both indoor meets,” Acre said. “He’s been running very well. He does not have the tall, lanky sprinter body. He’s shorter, compact, and has decided to get in the weight room the last couple of years and has improved his strength. In the winter, he’s done a lot of off-season running.”
Acre also likes what he’s seen from senior Ben Seeger and from freshman sprinter Austin Smith. Senior Alex Lantz, a sprinter who has been out with a leg injury, has returned to help in the relays and in the 400-meter dash.
“We have a pretty good group of seniors,” said Acre, who singled out senior John Lippert’s work on the sprint relay teams and in the hurdles.
Matt Meagher, a sophomore, has done well in the hurdles, the 400-yard dash, and the pole vault. Senior Nate Trevino has led the way in the long jump and hurdles.
Junior Mitchell Kolito has shown promise in the distances and is a college prospect, Acre added.