In addition to the phenomenal high-end talent returning from last year, Doherty will need help from some lesser-known athletes. Margaret Hurst heads up the list of possibilities. Photo by Alan Versaw.
Doherty has had a remarkable run of high-end track and field talent over recent years. They have also struggled to put all the pieces together at the state meet. Last year, the Lady Spartans finished fourth at state.
You have the sense, however, that they all know things could work out better than that given the talent they've produced. Perhaps this is the year.
And you should not overlook the fact that Doherty will be bringing three can't-miss (if there is such a thing) athletes to the track this spring. In fact, two of them have already knocked down impressive marks on the indoor circuit.
Kelsey English has already cleared 5-5 in the high jump. Alexis Cooks has already pitched the shot over 40 feet. Jordan Rand hasn't jumped yet, but--not to worry--nobody's forgotten how she jumped last spring.
English figures to be a top contender in this year's 5A girls high jump. Cooks brings the top returning marks in 5A in both the shot put and discus (although she did not throw the discus at state last year). Jordan Rand will face some stiff competition in both the long jump and triple jump, but she is probably capable of winning the triple and winning, or at least finishing in some very high points, in the long jump. Rand is a legitimate 39+ triple jumper and 18+ long jumper. Not many schools can answer that. It's no exaggeration to suggest that these three should account for somewhere between 40 and 50 points at the state meet.
That's a substantial pile of points, but probably not enough to go home with the trophy with the golden runner (the one whose form is just a bit too forward-leaning).
So, Doherty can either start looking for points in other events or satisfy themselves with coming home trophy-less from state. Here's hoping they aim for the former. That, of course, elevates the risk factor, but it's always more fun that way.
And, it's not as if it's unrealistic to think they can slip a few more points into the mix.
Margaret Hurst qualified for state in the 300 hurdles as a sophomore last spring. She has potential to be a state athlete in that event again this year, as well as the 100 hurdles and long jump. And it would be especially nice for the Spartans if Hurst could replace some of the points that went the way of the graduation of Alex Wendt. Hurst is closer to scoring points in the 300 hurdles and long jump than in the 100 hurdles. Candidly, this figures to be yet another brutally tough year in the 5A girls 100 hurdles. If you're not running low 15s, you can dream all you want about state points, but they aren't going to materialize.
Makala Woods and Bryanna Aker both have a little speed to burn and could be parts of a nice sprint relay or two if possibilities aren't looking so good in the 100 and 200 come early May.
And, you can always play the card of waiting to see what comes in via the freshman class. More than anything else, Doherty needs the kind of depth that can fill out competitive relays and contribute points in onesies, twosies, and threesies at state. That has been mostly lacking in recent years.