The Whitehall boys track and field team will feature some strong throwers and speedy sprinters, which should make them a force this season inside the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference.

The boys, who finished 3-8 last season, come into the new campaign with a lot of talent returning in the sprints and throws. Among their returning medal winners at least year’s District XI Championships are junior Kresstoph Whittick and senior Chad Hussett, who comprised half of their 4x100 relay team which placed fourth at the tourney with a 43.63 mark.

Their medal winners at the D-11 Championships also featured Lucas Souders who finished fifth in the javelin with a 166-04 toss.

Souders, a junior, picked up right where he let off, establishing a new personal best in their opener against Easton. First year had coach Tyler Miller said that Souders threw 171-06 to set the new mark.

Miller doesn’t believe that Souders is finished adding to his personal best record book. In fact, he thinks that as the year progresses the junior will only get better.

“Once the weather warms, we’re expecting big things from him,” said Miller.

Souders will compete in all three throwing events this season for the Zephs.

In addition to Souders returning in the throws, senior Jacob Heffner also returns after finishing ninth last season at the D-11 Championships with a 155-02 mark.

The throws remain strong with junior Izak Bright in the mix, another experienced thrower who will look to make his mark in all three throws this season.

The shot put will also feature seniors Brandon Gawrys, Liam Sullivan, Justin Santiago, junior Javal Reyes and newcomer Aiden Tacker, a freshman.

In the discus Bright and fellow seniors Ian Reese and Jacob Zeiner, along with juniors Eli Nuscher, Souders, and Reyes, and freshman Tacker, will give them a formidable bunch.

The javelin will be another strong event as Souders, Heffner. Santiago, Bright, Zeiner and freshman Nicholas Souders will look to capture a lot of points this season.

Miller said that they have a bunch of strong arms that should help them as they look to medal in the postseason.

Another area that should bring some hardware are the sprints. Along with Hussett and Whittick will be junior Allen Negrete, sophomores Angelo Daddona and Niko Nomura and freshman Jaiden Lee.

Miller said that he’s excited to see what Lee can accomplish this year as a newcomer.

In the middle distances, they’ll feature Daddona, Jaiden Lee, senior Mohamed Abdalla, juniors Marcus Hamscher and Alberto Cervoni, sophomores Jacob Busch, Lennon Saylor, Jakob Schlosser, and freshmen Ryan Kovalchick and Ethan Kleppinger.

The distance races will be the domain of a trio of returning juniors as Wilfred Jimenez, Braeden Flannery and Graydon Schmeckenbecher. They’ll be joined by sophs Jacob and Peter Busch.

The hurdles will feature senior Artur Santos, junior Ahmen Hamada and freshman Alex Witcher.

In the pole vault Hamster returns along with senior Sean Cunningham. They’ll be joined by junior Jacob Gerhard and sophomore Tyler Kies.

Miller said that he’s excited to learn what Kies can bring to the event as he participates in the event for the first time this season.

The jumps will have a good mix of vets and newcomers as well. In the long jump, Hussett and Whittick are the established competitors, while senior Chris Perez, sophomore Andy Magarin, and freshman Mekhi Ochieng will look to make their mark.

The high jump will see Perez, senior Tony Rodriguez, junior Harrison Jetter, and sophomores Eyad Khafagy and Magarin compete.

The triple jump will see some of the same mix as Rodriguez, Khafagy and Magarin will look to make their mark in that event.

Miller said that he hopes to see them get far in their four relay races this year. He’s still looking for the right combinations, but he’s hopeful the next couple of meet all those spots will shake out.

This season the Zephs will also feature seniors Darion Cofield, Tyler Groff, Omar Hadeed, Mekhi Lee, Ian Reese, Ronald Roman-Carrasco and Caleb Staub.

Mekhi Lee, who injured his leg in football, will still not be able to participate in track. He was an integral part of last year’s track team and his absence will be missed.

Juniors looking to make their mark include Adauris Amil, Odalis Jimenez, Randy Okungo and Antonio Quinones.

Sophomores ready for action include Connor Fenstermaker, James Hersh, Philip Lahue, Isaac Moore-Ogola, Ihtraam Siddiqui and Jeffrey Warren.

Freshman include Giovanni Failla, Daniel Labram, Brayden Marrero, Guy Mugenzi, Dario Nomura, Joshua Prince, Nabieh Saloum, Daniel Sullivan, Shawn Woodring and Leon Yacoub.