Yellow Jacket Boy's Track and Field Team is young but promising
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Chester High School Boy's Track and Field Team has great numbers this year with 23 male athletes reporting. A group of three seniors and three juniors will lead a very promising contingent of 11 sophomores and six freshmen in track and field events during the 2011 season.
CHS Head Coach, Mike Coffey reports that even though he has a very young team he is looking for seniors John Baughman and Blake Nanney to be leaders this year. He likewise is excited about the possibility of senior Justin Woodward returning to action after recovering from an injury he received earlier this year.
"I look for John Baughman and Kyle Landon to step it up and lead the squad in 2011. They both are just finishing a very successful winter Indoor Season in which Baughman finished 3rd in the Pole Vault and Landon won the high jump at the annual Top-Prep Times Meet," commented Coffey. This indoor event is the equivalent of the outdoor IHSA State Meet held in May.
"Coffey further stated, "Our distance group is going to be another core of the 2011 squad and we are very happy with the freshman and sophomore turnout this spring."
The 2011 roster includes seniors John Baughman, Justin Woodward and Blake Nanney. Junior team members include Donovan Richardson, Ben Asselmeier and Zach Murdach.
Sophomores include Trent Eggemeyer, Zane Wallace, Jacob Fogle, Zach Sternberg, Daniel Walls, Kyle Landon, Brian Hartman, Link Hartman, Devon Valleroy, Jonas Hoffman and Fernando Guerra. Both Hoffman and Guerra are foreign exchange students who have adjusted well so far to the American system of track and field.
John Baughman, Joel Clendenin and Lane Gibbs will be the main pole vaulters this year. Ben Asselmeier, Donovan Richardson, Trent Eggemeyer, Zane Wallace, Jacob Fogle and Jacob Long will be responsible for the throwing duties in 2001. High jump is undoubtedly Kyle Landon's specialty. Clendenin will also compete in the long jump.
John Baughman, Daniel Walls, Joel Clendenin, Lane Gibbs and Ben Asselmeier are currently training in the sprints while Zach Murdach, Kyle Landon and Jonas Hofman will run the 400-meter dash.
Garret Alms is training to be a 300-meter hurdler while Blake Nanney, Murdach, Landon, Zach Sternberg, Fernando Guerra and Link Cushman will likely run middle distances.
Coach Coffey is excited about the distance runners. For example Zach Sternberg, Link Cushman, Devon Valleroy, Jordan Shroyer, Caleb Golding and Brian Hartman will handle the tough events such as the 800-meter run, the 1600-meter run (1-mile) and the 3200-meter run (2-mile). All of these young men are experienced and have a great work ethic.
The 2011 coaching staff consists of Coach Mike Coffey, Head Coach and Assistant Coaches Scott Haxton, Bob Koenegstein, Curt Gilpin and Troy Clendenin. Lady Jacket Head Coach, Jennifer Stumpe, will help out with the Boy's Team when and where needed.
Coach Koenegstein noted, "The really great thing about this year's team is that they are such good sportsmen. They are so helpful and they demonstrate true teamwork each day. They are all so fun to coach and work with. It should be a wonderful season in 2011."
The Boy's squad will host regular season home meets April 19 and May 9. The 2011 Chester Freshman/Sophomore Invitational will be hosted by CHS April 7 and Chester will host the 2011 Black Diamond Boy's Conference Meet Friday May 12. All home meets are held at the CHS Track and Field Complex.