The upcoming season for the Whitehall girls track team should hold a lot of promise with a strong group returning to set their sights on states again.

Last season the girls sent two underclassmen to the PIAA Championships at Shippensburg. Both Ivanna Jones, a senior, and Amanda Crooks, a sophomore, are back and looking to build off their success from last year.

They’ll form a strong core for the girls who feature 102 athletes on the roster this season. It will be a good mix of veterans and newcomers that should once again make a push to the top of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference.

The girls finished 8-2 last season, one of the most successful years in a string of winning seasons under head coach James Sebesta.

They got points in a number of different events, and that should be the case this year as well. From the sprints, through the middle distance, distance races, and field events, it will be hard to shut out the Zephs in any one event this season.

This group is led by Jones who will be competing in all three jumps again this season, while also devoting time to the 4x100 as well. Like Calvin Schneck, she probably pare that down once the postseason begins, but head coach James Sebesta knows what type of competitor she is.

“She’s a great athlete,” said Sebesta. “She just loves to compete.”

Senior Jill Kreglow is another veteran who will give them experience in the hurdles and jumps. Fellow senior Alyssa Holland is another seasoned runner who will aid them in the hurdles and 4x400 relay this year.

Team captain Anna Gallina will provide leadership and compete in the middle distances, while thrower Vanessa Hadeed, another team captain, will give them strong point potential in the shot and discus.

“Vanessa is someone who will really help us out a lot,” said Sebesta.

Tiffanie Hopkins will be another strong returning runner in the middle distances, while fellow senior Vita Marks will once again give them a strong contender in the javelin.

Senior Amber Myers will be competing in the pole vault this season, while Alexandra Dorner will see action once again in the middle distances and the 4x800 relay.

Hayley Arner, a senior, will be another thrower this year, providing depth, while newcomer Taylor George will provide some spark as well. George will be sprinting, and as it stands right now, will run the first leg of the 4x100 team.

Additional seniors who will contribute this season include Taylor Beer, Jenise Cooper, Janelle Demko, Aaliyah Johnson, Jackie Khalil, Dajanae Pizarro and Grace Sullivan.

The junior class will be an integral part as well. Kylee Cunningham will be one of those juniors who will provide versatility for Sebesta’s squad. She’ll run the 400, 4x400, 4x100, and wherever else needed.

“She’s going to help us everywhere,” said Sebesta. “She’s one of the hardest workers you’ll ever see.”

Junior Mckenzie Wloczewski will be among a strong group of hurdlers as will Chanel Younes, while Hannah Gill, a returning distance runner, will be working hard in the mile and two mile.

In the sprints, Crooks returns. The sophomore will look to build on last year’s success which saw her capture silver in the 100 meters at the District XI Championships. While she didn’t participate in the indoor season because of basketball.

Additional juniors expected to see action include Kali Bartynski, Nicole Bassa, Manushka Bonhomme, Zena Burro, McKenzie Dietz, Laura Do, Hayley Fenstermaker and Zharia.

In the sprints, Crooks returns. The sophomore will look to build on last year’s success which saw her capture silver in the 100 meters at the District XI Championships. She accomplished that feat in the league championships as well. While she didn’t participate in the indoor season because of basketball, she brings a wealth of talent to the 100 and 200 meters, as well as the relays.

Another sprinter who will give them a boost is Angela Bacon. Sebesta said that she’ll also be a thrower this season, adding to her versatility.

Both Caitlin Cunningham and Kassidy Cunningham will be middle distance runners, aloha with fellow sophomore Jessica Kroboth.

Junior Madelyn Mertz will be a valuable member of the hurdles.

Another runner in that middle distance mix is sophomore Madison Gaston, while Logan Miller will be tossing the javelin.

The Zephs will also rely on sophomores Joella Agyemang, Morgan Anderson, Brittany-Taylor Armour, Angel Bacon, Deserey Bohorquez, Ques Clark, Corrin Collins, Elizabeth Gill, Michaela Hendricks, Mackenzie Irelan, Jennifer Kromer, Jessica Maher, Nadima Makhoul, Caroline Martin, Camila Medina, Catherine Missmer, Abby Pastir, Sarah Reinhard, Cheyenne Shook, Veronica Tully and Famela Zulu.

The newcomers from the freshman class will also lend a hand in the points race this season. Autumn Dragovits will be a helpful addition in the middle distance races, while Rachel Herr will provide some depth in the distance races.

Freshmen Juanita Flores is another distance runner who will give the Zephs some more strength in those races, while Sarah Jones will provide some clout in the jumps.

Additional freshmen expected to provide depth include Eve Amateur, Helen Davis, Audrey Fedor, Rebecca Ganthier, Emma Garneau, Hannah Gilbert, Martha Gilletto, Lauryn Guerro, Juliet Hower, Hope Millets, Emely Minaya, Grace Morse, Savanah Rivera, Elana Roman, Elizabeth Rosario, Kylie Saliby, Haley Smith, Julia Thomas, Olivia Thompson, Emily Wells, Caterine Yunez-Cosme and Kaitlyn Zigafuse.

Right now the girls have a concentration of talent at the middle distances. Sebesta said that’s a good problem to have since he feels you build a team from that spot because that way runners can either slide up or down from that point.

He also believes the girls are in good position to compete again this year.

“I think the girls can be pretty strong this year,” he said. “The other teams [in the league] will be strong, but we’re young and we’ll see what happens.”

He added the most important things this year has been the attitude of both the boys and girls teams.

“It’s a lot of kids showing up and doing what we ask them to do,” he said.