PREVIEW: Lynchburg girls track has strong junior base

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A strong core of junior girls will carry the Lynchburg-Clay High School girls track team this season, according to coach Shawn McLaughlin.

“I think we’re pretty well-balanced on the girls side,” he said. “Some of the sprinters are solid, the distance is solid, and we have good throwers.”

One returning senior, Lexi Waits, will close her high school track career with some flexibility in distance, middle-distance and relays after competing in the school-record-holding 4 x 100 team last season.

Juniors Angela McLaughlin and Taylor Marcelino will mainly run sprint events and relays, Abby Blankenship will run relays and hurdlers and Keyara Oaks will round out the roster in the field with shotput and discus.

Similar to the boys team, McLaughlin said, the Lady Mustangs graduated a school record holder in discus last summer, so Oaks will have to step up to the plate.

Another junior, Emily Pinkerton, will return as a distance runner in the 800.

“I think we have several opportunities in the girls relays to get out to regionals like we did last year,” McLaughlin said, “and I think Abby probably has a chance to get out there as a hurdler as well.”

McLaughlin told The Times-Gazette he’s looking forward to coaching again this year.

“I think we should have a pretty good all-around team this season,” McLaughlin said.

Reach David Wright at 937-402-2570, or on Twitter @DavidWrighter.

Lynchburg-Clay’s Bailey Leininger goes for a discus throw in a previous season. After graduating last year, Leininger leaves big shoes to fill in discus for the Lady Mustangs this season.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2017/03/web1_Leininger.jpgLynchburg-Clay’s Bailey Leininger goes for a discus throw in a previous season. After graduating last year, Leininger leaves big shoes to fill in discus for the Lady Mustangs this season. Times-Gazette file photo
McLaughlin: Team boasts solid sprinters, distance, throwing

By David Wright

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