SEASON PREVIEW: Boys' & Girls' Track and Field

By Drew Sandifer

After the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of their 2020 season, the Brownsburg Boys' & Girls' Track and Field teams are set to begin their first season in two years. 

The Boys' team enters the season on a high note from their 2019 campaign. The Bulldogs won the HCC for the first time in school history and placed fourth at the state meet. For the girls' team, they return Abby Lynch, who was state runner-up in the 1600 meter run and finished on the podium in the 800 meter.

Both Coach Popenfoose and Coach Waggoner share optimistic expectations about the upcoming season despite the absence of a season last year.

"The girls are looking to bring home a Sectional Championship, a high score in the conference meet and send as many athletes to the State meet as possible," Waggoner said.

Meanwhile, the boys are looking to get back to the State meet. 

"Our goal is to compete to win every meet we enter. We want to put ourselves in a position to make a run at the state championship meet in June," Popenfoose said.

Along with Lynch, sophomore Eva Altschul will make her high school debut in track season, looking to score big points in the long distance events alongside senior Alivia Gustrowsky, the pair competed atop the Cross Country team this fall. 

As for sprinters to look out for, freshman Aysa Thurston will be the Dogs' top sprinter while sophomore Darrelle Rice will be the Bulldogs' top returner in her Bulldog debut. Destiny Thomas comes to the team off a run to the state championship and will help Brownsburg compete in the 100 and 4x100 relay. Rice and Thomas will be joined in sprints by junior Kendria Patcher. Athletes to watch in the 4x400 include junior Jordan Griffin and sophomore Paige Kirtz, who will also compete in long jump.

For the boys, it is a senior-laden group with upwards of eight impact runners as upperclassmen. Seniors Pierce Thomas, Marcos Barbosa and Tyray Lackey lead the team into the season looking to return to the State Championship meet as they did as sophomores.

Thomas returns as the defending State Champion in long jump, including being the only sophomore or younger to finish in the top 25 at the meet. Thomas also finished top ten in the 200-meter dash in 2019. Barbosa and Lackey made appearances in the State championship meet as high jumpers, but will also contribute in other events this season.

Other key contributors include junior John Colquitt, who will compete in long jump, hurdles and sprints. He will be joined at the sprinter's blocks by fellow junior Haiden Diemer-McKinney, who will also compete in middle distance. Seniors Luke Lacey, Trevor Nolan and Jacob Kodrick will also be senior leaders on the team as Lacey will sprint and Nolan and Kodrick will specialize in long distance events.

Brownsburg kicks their season off with a meet at HCC foe Westfield on March 24.