The Washington girls cross country team is beating last year’s pace, a good sign after a breakthrough 2009.
“We’re excited. We’re already ahead of where we were last year,” Lady Panther head coach Troy Walcott said.
Washington leaped from sixth place to third in the Mid-Illini Conference a year ago with 79 points, its best showing since 2000 when Bob Facker was guiding the girls’ squad.
The intrasquad meet Aug. 21 yielded some positive results, with three newcomers joining the solid group of returnees.
Senior Carolyn Riedel was in the top position, followed closely by freshman Haley Willis.
Junior Julia Williams was one slot in front of Brittney Wright, another freshman.
Riedel and Williams were first-team all-conference honorees last season.
The third Lady Panther freshman, Ashley Knott, raced to fifth in the meet among team members, while junior Alyssa Johnson and senior Kelly Jo Deatherage were sixth and seventh, respectively.
Junior Rachel Fotheringham is another runner to watch, Walcott suggested.
The freshmen making an impact was a boost to the team.
“They all ran pretty good mile times in eighth grade,” Walcott said. “We hoped that would translate to three-mile times.”
The rest of the Washington girls’ roster includes: seniors — Jennica Hipes and Stephanie Jarrett; juniors — Lindsey Baker, Beth Johnson, Katie Megyesi, Allison Schantz and Michelle Vittitoe; and sophomores — Kassedie Dismang and Taylor Perrott.
The Lady Panthers are looking forward to Thursday’s season debut at home against Peoria Heights and Eureka, a highly-regarded Class A team.
“We’re looking forward to the season and it’s great to have freshmen and other sophomores and juniors out for the first time,” said Walcott.
Among Washington’s losses to graduation were Rachel St. Clair, Kathleen O’Brien and Amy Learned, all of whom were in the top seven at the 2A Notre Dame Regional from a squad that advanced to the East Peoria Sectional.
East Peoria, the five-time defending conference champion, and Metamora are the top-rated teams prior to the season.
The Raiders were ranked fourth and the Redbirds ninth in the Dyestat Illinois preseason poll.
The Lady Panthers are a team waiting to sneak up on any competitor who focuses solely on who departed.
