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4-12-2007 By Eric Ahlqvist Editor Senior Ron Alston and junior Danny Baxter will lead a large team of 20 athletes into the season, which will begin Wednesday with a home meet against Morris. Baxter is the defending Tri- Valley Champion in both hurdle events as well as the triple jump, and also won Section Four Class D titles in both hurdle events and was second in the triple jump. Alston placed in the top three in both league and sectionals in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meter events, and could improve on those performances this season, said Milford head coach Dave Prouty. Freshman sprinter Mike Foy should also be a big contributor this year after finishing third in Class D in the 100 as an eighth grader. ``Those three should give us scoring, but the key to the season will be getting our other returnees and newcomers in the right events,'' Prouty said. ``We finished second in Class D last year, just nine points behind Cherry Valley.'' CV-S won both the league and Section Four title last year, and will probably be the team to beat again this season, Prouty added. ``They were a young team, and they have almost everybody back and they have good numbers,'' he said. ``But if things fall into place for us, we should be in the hunt for both a league and sectional title. When we won the league a couple of years ago, it was because of commitment and teamwork, and that's what we'll need more of this season.'' Girls to rely on strong junior class Unlike the boys' team, the Milford girls' track and field squad will feature a more balanced attack this season. A quartet of talented juniors will lead the way, including Brenna Campbell, a solid performer in both the 400 and 800 the past two seasons. Campbell is just a couple of seconds away from breaking the school record in the 800, and that's one of her goals for the season, Prouty said. Another junior, Maria Arnot, is recovered from a knee injury that slowed her last year and should be a force in the sprints and long jump. A third junior, Morgan Dutcher, is a sprinter and mid-distance runner and along with Campbell was the leading point scorer from a year ago. The fourth junior is Natasha Roseboom, a hurdler who was changed her form from five steps to four and should be improved, and also a possible point scorer in the shot put. Freshman Chandler Prouty was the only Milford girls athlete to score in Invitational meets last season, and is one of the top discus throwers in the Tri-Valley. Prouty is also a long jumper, and part of a talented 4x100 relay team which also includes Arnot, Dutcher and Roseboom. Prouty said he is also counting on Lizz Brigham, a fiveyear distance runner, to have a big senior season. The CV-S girls won the league last season, and Prouty said his team's depth may help them unseat the Lady Patriots this year. ``We have 18 girls on the team, and while we may not win a lot of events, we need to pile up points and we should be able to do that,'' he said. ``We have some weak events, and finding someone to fill those spots will be a key.'' Milford will host the Tri- Valley Relays on April 27, and will again attend the Cooperstown Invitational on May 5. |
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