The Whitehall girls track and field team is at the starting line waiting to see how they fare this year while facing some challenges.

In prior years, the Zephyr girls track team has been the beneficiary of a huge turnout among the Whitehall student body. This year those numbers have significantly dropped, with head coach Tyler Miller indicating they currently have 23 girls on the roster.

That means a large number of those girls will be entered in multiple events. They’ll get plugged into races and events where they may not have much experience, but Miller sees that as a positive.

“It’s a new opportunity to make it into districts,” said Miller.

He believes that some of those athletes will settle into events that they never knew they’d even participate, and that can open a lot of doors.

While it’s going to be a lot of kids getting plugged into different and often new events, they do have a strong core of returning athletes who’ll be well positioned to qualify for the postseason. Chief among those returnees are Arizona Marakovits, Lindsay Solderitch and Toni Jones.

That trio is representative of their sprinters, pole vaulters, middle distance runners and throwers. It gives the Zephs good leadership in those areas that cover a large swath of events in track and field.

Jones and Solderitch are seniors, while Marakovits is a junior. Jones competes in the throwing events, while Solderitch makes her home in the middle distances.

Miller said that Solderitch is a strong candidate to make districts in the 400 meters, and that’s going to be her focus this season.

Jones is an established thrower and she’s a proven point producer for the Zephs.

Marakovits has already carved out some strong performances in the pole vault, and Miller expects that to continue. She’ll also compete in the sprints this season.

The list of experienced returnees also includes seniors Aspen Schache (sprints, pole vault), Delaney Sullivan (throws), Mariele Patungan (hurdles, sprints), along with juniors Daisha Hamilton (jumps), Brooke Holmes (jumps), Sandra Neamah (throws).

The sprints will also feature senior Brianna Uhnak, junior Alexandra Cook, and freshmen Tessa Hopkins and M’balu Fofana. Miller said that Uhnak will also compete in the pole vault once she’s able to return to completion. Hopkins is another sprinter who will pole vault.

From that group of sprinters will emerge their 4x100 relay team. Whitehall has had a strong tradition of excellence in that event the last few years, and that’s the hope once again this year.

The middle distances will be the domain of a number of athletes including sophomore Catherine Hudak. Miller said that Hudak is a great athlete with a lot of potential. Sophomores Mikayla Warren and Sophia Gallo will also run in the middle distance races. Also competing in middle distances for the Zephs are freshmen Olivia and Sophia Mrazik,

Hudak will also compete in the distance races. Miller said that a number of the middle distance runners will do the same.

The hurdles will be home to a host of athletes including Patungan, Cook, as well as sophomore Maisey Hartman and freshman Ava Demjan.

In the jumping events, Cook, Demjan, and freshman Ella Hadersback will compete in all three disciplines. That list of jumpers also includes Hartman, Holmes, Marakovits and Hamilton.

The pole vaulters are a superb group led by Marakovits. They’ll also feature Hopkins, along with junior Brielle Schrey and Schache.

The throwers are solid as well. Jones leads a strong cast that includes Neamah, Schrey, Sullivan and sophomore Olivia Wickel.

With so many girls competing in multiple events, Miller isn’t quite sure how it will all shake out this season. He knows he has a hardhardworkingup who are eager to get back onto the track and compete.