Track preview: Southeastern boys return experience, girls' numbers up

Editor's note: This is part of a series of spring sports previews for the Chillicothe Gazette. Coaches, if you did not receive a form from your AD, please contact Tonya Shipley at tshipley@gannett.com to be included in the previews.

The Southeastern boys return experience with seniors and juniors, while the girls have higher numbers than in the past.

Will these be the keys to the improvement of both teams?

Here is a deeper look at the two teams.

Southeastern boys

The Panthers will be looking to improve on a seventh-place finish in the SVC meet last season under Tom Kitchen, who is in his fourth year at Southeastern and 21st total in coaching.

The team has lost Connor Smith (sprints/long jump) and Britton Ford (throws) to graduation and Grayson Roberts (distance) who moved from last year's squad.

Key returners include Gage Renison, a senior (distance), who was the highest finisher at the SVC meet for the Panthers and Daniel Morgan, a senior (sprints/high jump), who was the only regional qualifier. Other returners are Braydon Dickson, a senior (sprints) who scored points at the SVC meet, Craig Branham, a senior (jumps), who had a great indoor track season in 2025.

Six area teams met for the annual Ross County Invitational track and field meet at Bostic Field on May 1, 2024, in Frankfort, Ohio. Zane Trace took home the boys' title and Adena won the girls title.

Juniors Jake Wireman (hurdles), Carson Stepp (distance), and Justin Pinkerton (distance) all scored at the SVC meet. Sophomore Luke Jones (sprints) also scored at SVC. Contributing last year was also Kellen Kitchen, a senior (throws), Parker Bodary, a senior (sprints/throws), Weston Flowers, a junior (throws), Austin Lhamon, a sophomore (throws) and Mason Cyrus, a sophomore (sprints).

Key newcomers include Brayden Karshner (freshman, sprints), who placed third (110m) and second (200m) in the junior high SVC last season, and Keegan McCoy (freshman, distance, pole vault) who placed fourth in the 400m and 800m in junior high last season.

"We have a senior and junior class that have been great leaders the last few years," Kitchen said. "We also have a great group of young student-athletes out this year. It will be exciting to see how they can contribute. Our goal is to move up in the SVC and we should have a lot of opportunities to progress toward that this year. Our season will depend on the contributions of our seniors and how they set the tone each time we step out on the track."

Southeastern's Karlie Peters crosses the finish line for the 400-meter dash at the Scioto Valley Conference track and field championships on May 10, 2024 at George Knisley Memorial Stadium in Bainbridge, Ohio.

Southeastern girls

Kelli Kitchen has taken over the reins of the girls' program after spending 10 years as a coach in junior high and as an assistant track coach.

Last year, Southeastern was sixth at the SVC meet.

The team has lost Gabby Bunke (throws) from last year's squad.

Returning this season is sophomore Karlie Peters, who is a sprinter that was sixth at regionals in the 400m dash and eighth in the 200m. Juniors Rowan and Reese Ruckel are throwers with Rowan finished second at shot put at districts and Reese finished fifth at the shot at districts. Leila Kiser, a senior (sprints), Karsyn Rider, a junior (distance), Grace Tull, a junior (distance), Allyah Hawk, a sophomore (distance), Emma Mosier, a sophomore (sprints) and Addyson Stewart, a sophomore (distance) also return.

Key newcomers are junior Abby Millet (throws) and senior Gabby Flowers (throws).

"I am excited for the season and to see how the girls will perform. I have high expectations for these girls," said Kelli Kitchen. "We have several girls on our roster who are freshman and sophomores participating for the first time and returning who have taken a year off. Our numbers are higher than they have been so hopefully losts of personal bests and places in the future. I look forward to seeing where Karlie, Reese and Rowan will finish this year since they had great success and finishes at districts and regionals last season."

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Ohio track preview Southeastern boys experience, girls' numbers up

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Track preview: Southeastern boys return experience, girls' numbers up

Southeastern boys

Southeastern girls

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