2020 Girls Track & Field Preview
Mideastern Conference
Outlook
The conference was loaded with talented seniors last year and most of them went on to earn college scholarships. That opens the door for anyone to claim this year’s title.
Only three individuals who won titles at last’s Mideastern Conference Championship are back. They are Topsail’s Madison Lofton (100-meter dash), Hoggard’s Leah Schwagerl (pole vault) and Ashley’s Saniya Rivers (high jump).
Laney has claimed the past three league crowns, but they were able to count on a big number of points from distance runner Natalie Tyner, who is now a freshman at UNC. Once person will be unable to replace her, so the Buccaneers will need several athletes to step up and fill the void.
On paper, Topsail looks like a strong team. The Pirates bring back Lofton, who was also second in the 200, as well as two of the best distance runners in the area in sister Kaitlyn and Makayla Obremski. Ariana Blevins is one of the top jumpers in the area. She placed second in the long jump and triple jump at last year’s conference championship.
Topsail’s Ariana Blevins had a pair of second-place finishes at last year’s MEC Championship. [Tim Hower/Coastal Preps]
Ashley will be strong in jumps with the addition of Rivers as well as the return of Reagan Haney and Emma Holton. They will also be strong in distance events thanks to Paxton Chitty, Bianca Copeman and Angelina DiBlasi.
Past three champions
2019 – Laney
2018 – Laney
2017 – Laney
2016 – Hoggard
2015 – New Hanover
Athletes to watch
Jr. Ariana Blevins, Topsail
Jr. Nija Bryant, South Brunswick
Soph. Aliyah Chasten, Hoggard
Jr. Paxton Chitty, Ashley
Sr. Bianca Copeman, Ashley
Jr. Reagan Haney, Ashley
Sr. Madison Lofton, Topsail
Fr. Sarah Martin, Hoggard
Jr. Mary Payton, Moffitt, South Brunswick
Sr. Cheyenne Newkirk, Hoggard
Fr. Kaitlyn Obremski, Topsail
Soph. Makayla Obremski, Topsail
Sr. Macaiah Robertson, Laney
Fr. Molly Parker, Hoggard
Sr. Jenna Pellizzari, Hoggard
Hoggard’s Jenna Pellizzari is one of the top distance runners in the area. [Tim Hower/Coastal Preps]
Jr. Saniya Rivers, Ashley
Sr. Leah Schwagerl, Hoggard
Jr. Malayka Shaw, North Brunswick
Jr. Journey Thompson, Laney
Around the Area
Outlook
Pender returns all three athletes who scored points at the 2019 1A State Championship and led them to a 15th-place finish. Junior Sonti Robinson was the shot put state champion with a distance of 34-5.5. Daisy Hearn was victorious in the wheelchair shot put and wheelchair discus events and Faith Lana finished tied for second in high jump and eighth in triple jump.
Coastal Christian is hoping to improve upon last year’s eighth-place finish at the NCISAA Division II State Championship. Maya Insley scored 14 points at that meet, finishing third in the 4×200 relay, fourth in the triple jump and sixth in the 4×100. Sophomore Sarah Holler was fifth in the pole vault and Grace Anderson was on the 4×100, 4×200 and 4×400 relays that all scored points.
Athletes to watch
Sr. Grace Anderson, Coastal Christian
Soph. Daisy Hearn, Pender
Soph. Sarah Holler, Coastal Christian
Sr. Maya Insley, Coastal Christian
After playing tennis in the fall and basketball in the winter, Coastal Christian’s Maya Insley has turned her attention to track. [Tim Hower/Coastal Preps]
Jr. Sonti Robinson, Pender
Sr. Jay Washington, Cape Fear Academy
