.jpg)
Although small in numbers, the Rockbridge County High School indoor track and field team has a lot of talent, and longtime head coach Jennifer Showalter looks for several individuals to go deep into the postseason.
The Wildcats have just seven team members this season, six girls and one boy. Showalter said the main goal is “to get as many qualified for region and state” as possible.
Leading those who returned is sophomore co-captain Celia Jones, a sprinter, hurdler and jumper who was a regional qualifier in both indoor and outdoor track and field as a freshman.
The other co-captains for the girls are sophomore returnee Cate Wilson and freshman Ariana Mitchell. Wilson is a shot put thrower, and Mitchell is “already doing great in the high jump” and is also a sprinter, said Showalter.
The lone boy competing is co-captain Fin Looney, a sophomore. Looney, who played golf this fall, is a thrower.
For the RC girls, sophomore Julieanne Woodward is trying indoor track and field as a thrower after competing outdoors last spring.
Joining Mitchell in the freshman class are sprinters Harper Bruno and Elle Werner.
Returning for her third year as the Wildcats’ assistant coach is Amy Zickafoose. Showalter and Zickafoose will be working with everybody on the team: sprinters, jumpers and throwers.
In the Valley District, Showalter sees Turner Ashby, Harrisonburg and Spotswood as the Wildcats’ toughest rivals. Last winter, the RC girls placed fifth at the district meet, with the boys finishing sixth. East Rockingham was the district champion for the girls, with Harrisonburg winning the boys’ title.
The Wildcats will begin the season with the Virginia Winter Classic on Saturday at the Virginia Military Institute Corps Physical Training Facility in Lexington, starting at 9 a.m., with most of the Wildcats’ events in the morning.
All spectators must purchase tickets at this link: https://www. athletic.net/TrackAndField/ meet/563932/tickets?fbclid=IwY2xjawG5yCBleHRu-A2FlbQIxMAABHRRDLWlw2gscT9VPILUHY XSs9 4QHgIPEnylUZLn2GCPbL tdmZeeBL-oqw_aem_4ri9jIjsxyTS5n-VghMNA.
RC also has a meet scheduled at VMI on Saturday, Jan. 18.
