MILFORD-The Tri-Valley track season, or what Milford head coach Dave Prouty jokingly referred to as dog sled races, is scheduled to begin April 4 when Milford travels to CV-S Wednesday for a three team meet with Edmeston.

"It's been tough getting our practices in," said Milford head coach Dave Prouty, about to enter his 21st season at Milford. "With all the snow, it's been tough to do anything outside, especially with the field events."

Despite the cold weather, the Milford boys track team has reason for optimism this season, led by junior Ben Cotter, who qualified for the Class D State meet in the long jump last year.

"Ben is so versatile and may do four open events for us," Prouty said. "He does the 100, 200, long jump and the 4x400 relay. He may do the 400 instead of the relay for us this year."

Senior Patrick Kelly has been one of the top distance runners in the area since joining the varsity in the eighth grade, and holds the school record in the 1600.

"Pat is very motivated to finish his career on a high note," Prouty said. "One of his main goals is to set the school record in the 800, and he needs to trim about five seconds off his time to do it, which he can."

Two other top returnees are junior Royce Jeffers, a hurdler and sprinter, and senior Nate Huffstickler, who competes in the high jump and middle distance races. Huffstickler finished fourth in the 400 at Tri-Valley league meet last year.

Chris Carr and Brandon Morey will handle the shot put and discus events for the Milford boys, and Prouty said they both have a chance to make an impact in the league. Prouty added that Matt Youngs, a senior sprinter, is a versatile athlete for Milford who is an important "cog in the team wheel."

"The newcomers on the team will need to fill in some holes we have in the hurdles and relays," Prouty said.

Prouty said the boys team should challenge for the Tri-Valley title, along wiht always strong Cherry Valley-Springfield and Edmeston. "With the nucleus we have coming back, a championship is a legitimate goal," he said.

The Milford girls track team has 16 members this year, including senior sprinter Katie Ballantine who finished fifth in the Section Four Class D race in the 100 last year, and fourth in the 200 at the Tri-Valley league meet.

In senior Laura Miron and junior Christine Robinson, Prouty has two middle distance runners who push each other in the 800 and 1500 meter runs. Both Miron and Robinson have been school record holders in the 1500, with Robinson the current record holder.

"It's nice to have two runners of equal caliber, because they really bring out the best in each other," Prouty said.

Other returnees include Selena Baxter, a dominant leg of Milford's always talented 4x100 relay team, which has been league champion for the last few years. "The girls really compete to be on that relay team because it has such a great tradition here," Prouty said.

Jen McVeigh and Isis Ward return in the middle distance events, and Sarah Lutz, a sophomore, will compete in both the shot put and discus. Prouty said eighth grader Shannon Weir, who has started on both the varsity soccer and basketball teams since the seventh grade, is also out for the team this year, and he is hoping to find events to utilize her athleticism.

"The Stamford girls have a dynasty in the league, but we're hoping to make a run at the title this year," Prouty said.

Milford track schedule: April 4: Edmeston, Milford, CV-S at CV-S; April 7: at Tri-Valley Relays; April 11: Milford and Schenevus at Cooperstown; April 24: G-MU, Milford, Davenport, Stamford at Davenport; April 26: Milford, Franklin, Schenevus, G-MU and CV-S at CV-S' April 28: at CV-S Invitational; May 2: Milford and Downsville at Hartwick; May 5: at Cooperstown Invitational; May 11: at Sherburne-Earlville Invitational; May 14: Milford, Schenevus and CV-S at CV-S; May 17: at Tri-Valley League Championship; May 24: Class D sectional meet; May 31: State qualifier meet; June 8 and 9: State meet.