The upcoming Whitehall girls track and field season will feature a lot of youth, and that inexperience may lead to some growing pains throughout the season.

One salve on that possible seasonal ache is junior Amanda Crooks. Crooks is one of the top sprinters in the league. Correct that: one of the top sprinters in the state. She recently finished 9th at the Pennsylvania Track and Field Coaches Association Indoor State Championships. Head coach James Sebesta said that she shaved a full second off her best indoor time at the championships at State College on Feb 25. Additionally, Crooks has been a consistent top three finisher in the 100 meters throughout her career, and this season should be no different.

Sebesta said that Crooks will run the 100, 4x100 and the 200, while that longer distance may depend on varying circumstances meet to meet.

Crooks headlines a talented cast of sprinters that also features senior Kylee Cunningham (100, 4x100, and long jump) who has plenty of experience on the oval for the Zephyrs. Her desire to help wherever needed will be a big bonus for the Zephs this season and Sebesta expects the senior will be one of their leaders.

Also sprinting will be freshman Kate Bonshak. Sebesta is excited about Bonshak’s potential and envisions her as someone who can help nab points in a number of areas. She’ll sprint, run middle distances (400 meters), and also jump.

“She’s just really multitalented,” said Sebesta.

Junior Angel Bacon is another sprinter who will be counted on this year. Bacon also has experience and will be an important part of their lineup this season. Sophomore Helen Davis (100, 200) will also be part of that sprinters mix this season.

The girls boast 77 student-athletes competing in track this year, and the sprints will be the area where they have the most experience. Sebesta said that while they’re young, the main thing he’ll be looking at is how they progress.

“As long as they improve, that’s all we can ask,” he said.

One of those areas where the youth will be prominent will be in the distance races. Sebesta said that he’s still looking for runners to emerge from that pack, and since they’ve only been on the track a few times this season, that still needs to be sorted out.

In the middle distances, Kassidy Cunningham leads the field, an experienced runner who will give them solid footing in the 400 and 4x400 races. Sophomore Emily Wells is another middle distance runner that they’ll be counting on, while Kylee Cunningham will also lace up her spikes for the 400.

In the hurdles the Zephs will feature junior Madelyn Mertz, a seasoned vet who can help the Zephs in both the high and intermediate races. Also running the hurdles will be freshman Aliyah Barkley. Sebesta said that Barkley is really going to help them in those events this season.

As for the jumping events, Sebesta said that it’s a crowded field that needs to be sorted out, but he has a number of athletes who can help win points, including Kylee Cunningham, Hayley Fenstermaker, Bonshak, and Barkley.

In the pole vault, the Zephs will look to a threesome to help them this season. That gang of vaulters will be sophomores Savanah Rivera, Elizabeth Rosario and Julia Thomas.

The throwing events are another area where the Zephs have some experience as juniors Logan Miller and Cheyenne Shook return. Both will be competing in the javelin. Alix Buskirk will also compete in the javelin. While a newcomer to track, Buskirk brings a hefty sports résumé to the event and that should be a help her adapt quickly.

In the shot and discus, 20 girls will be looking to emerge as a driving force in that event. Right now, junior Jorgi Duld has shown some promise, while junior Cameryn Evans and senior Nicole Bassa will also get their opportunities in the circle.

Sebesta said that the two newcomers to watch are Duld and Bonshak. He believes they’ll make an impact this year. While he concedes this may be a year in which they struggle to get above .500, he still believes that if they work hard and improve every day, they’ll reap the benefits.

Also competing this season are seniors Zena Burro, Laura Do, Hannah Gill, Cassidy Larkin, Jenine Levano, Brianna Parker, Crystal Ray, Tamara Riddick, Kaylee Stauffer, Alysa Tran and Maria Tran.

Juniors set to make their mark include Joella Agyemang, Morgan Anderson, Angel Bent, Jada Britland, Ques Clark, Shaniyah Colon, Caitlin Cunningham, Madison Gatson, Michaela Hendricks, Ariana Hines, Makenzie Irelan, Jessica Kroboth, Jennifer Kromer, Camila Medina, Catherine Missmer, Adriana Ordoñez, Taylor Rummel, Savanna Schmidt and Catherine Wang.

Sophomores looking to contribute include Rienna Atiyeh, Autumn Dragovits, Logan Fawcett, Rebecca Ganthier, Olivia George, Sarah Jones, Nashali Lopes-Rodriguez, Hope Millets, Haley Smith, Oriana Tabshi and Caterine Yunez-Cosme.

Freshmen ready to run are Brianna Black, Jessica Bui, Heylee Chan, Nikki Dietz, Cassie Due, Marina Fayez, Autumn Gregory, Kristin Laky, Hannah Miller, Destiny Ortiz, Selsebila Quaddah, Devon Roberts, Sidney Smith and Reagan Wentling.