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Healthy Demos key to Parker girls track team

JANESVILLE — Dave Lehmann is not one for making predictions. But in his 19 years as Janesville Parker’s girls track and field coach, his teams have become very predictable.

Parker High has finished first or second in the conference 13 times in 18 years and has never finished below .500 in dual meets. The Vikings have won conference titles six times under Lehmann, including four straight between 1999 and 2002.

Although Middleton will be heavily favored to repeat as champion, Parker figures to again finish in the upper half of the conference.

“Middleton’s like we were a few years ago,” Lehmann said. “Until somebody can beat them, which no one came close to doing last year, they remain the favorite.

“We’ve got quite a few letter winners back, but we also have some positions to fill. The biggest thing is for us to get outside. We need to see our younger kids on the track.”

One athlete Lehmann doesn’t have to worry about seeing is Shelby Demos. The junior has placed in the top six in high jump at the Division 1 state meet the last two seasons and also is one of the area’s top hurdlers.

Although she has battled a leg injury the last two years, Lehmann said his superstar is as healthy as she’s ever been.

“One thing about Shelby is that as good as she’s been for us, I think she’s got even more to give if she’s healthy,” Lehmann said. “We know what she can do in the hurdles and high jump, and this year she’s probably going to be in a couple of relays as well.”

Junior Cassie Niles will give the Vikings two solid hurdlers, while junior Alex Oines provides depth for Demos in the high jump after clearing 4-foot-10 last year.

Oines also is one of three returning pole vaulters, along with senior Katelyn Presti and junior Kate Perkins.

Lehmann said the team is lacking depth in the short sprints, but does return junior Kelsey Jones—the team’s top sprinter a year ago. Jones can run anything from the 100 to 400, and will also likely be on a couple of relays. Sophomores Niquisha Kenerson and Danielle Garber will also be counted on in the sprints.

“I expect big things from Kelsey, it’s just a matter of where she’s going to be as far as events,” Lehmann said.

“The rest of our sprint events, as well as the relays, are going to come down to getting out on the track and seeing what combinations work best together.”

Juniors Sam Drummer and Erika Moen are the top two throwers returning, while senior Ericka Schwartz, junior Adrienne McDonald and sophomore Kylie Simonson are expected to compete in both the long and triple jump.

The Vikings are inexperienced in the distance events, with junior Nicole Bakke and sophomore Ashley Greeson the only runners returning with varsity experience.

As usual, Lehmann seems to have a talented group of freshmen ready to contribute on varsity. Lehmann doesn’t like to mention any freshmen candidates until they have proven themselves, but he believes as many as eight could contribute right away.

“The freshmen have to earn their wings before we let them fly with our program,” Lehmann said. “But we definitely have some freshman that are going to help us.”

Parker’s schedule:

Home meets at Monterey Stadium

(4:30 p.m. unless indicated)

APRIL: 1—Whitewater; 8—Beloit and Madison East; 12—Hononegah Relays, at Rockton, Ill., 10 a.m.; 15—At Madison La Follette (w/Sun Prairie); 18—Parker Invitational; 22—Janesville Craig and Madison West; 25—Cougar Relays , at Montrery, 4 p.m.; 29—At Middleton (w/Madison Memorial).

MAY: 2—Burlington Invitational; 9—Oregon Invitational, 4:15 p.m.; 13—Big Eight meet, at Lussier Stadium, Madison La Follette, 3:45 p.m.