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Craig looks to maintain track and field reputation

JANESVILLE — Janesville Craig High School’s boys and girls track and field programs have been mainstays in the upper division of the Big Eight Conference.

Look for that trend to continue in 2009.

The Cougar boys, led by seniors JoJo Pregont, Joey Kennedy and Ryan Ahrens, return a number of state qualifiers.

And although the girls were hit hard by graduation, plenty of talent returns—especially in the distance events.

Pregont qualified for the state meet in three events a year ago, and is expected to be one of the top athletes in the conference again this season.

“JoJo is such a diverse athlete,” Craig boys coach Jeff Deininger said. “I can put him in a number of different events and know that he’s going to score points.’’

Pregont again will compete in the jumps, as well as possibly running in a couple of relay events. Kennedy was part of Craig’s state-qualifying 3,200-meter relay team and can run anything from the 100 dash to the 800-meter run.

Ahrens finished sixth at the Division 1 state cross country meet and will be one of the top distance runners in the conference. Senior Matt McDonald, another state qualifier, provides quality depth in the distance events along with senior Brad Cagney and junior Matt Bordwell.

Juniors Keegan Kelly and Damario Graham head the list of sprinters, with junior Brandon Rusch and senior Tyler Lawrence the team’s top hurdlers. Junior Alex Crandall is the top returning pole vaulter on the team, and can also run the 400.

“We’ve got a lot of kids out, and that’s always good,” Deininger said. “We’ll know a lot more about the team after we get a couple meets in.”

Coach Mark Marsden’s girls team will rely on a wealth of distance runners, led by senior Cassidi Running.

Craig finished third in the WIAA Division 1 state cross country meet, and the majority of those runners are out for track.

“We’re going to have to score a lot of points in the 800 and up because we’ve got some depth problems in some other events,” Marsden said. “We’ve only got six seniors out, so we’ll be relying a lot on the younger kids.”

Running will be joined in the distance events by junior Megan Muhs, sophomore Rachel Gilmore and junior Regina Griffith.

Junior Caroline Shea, along with sophomores Ally Wirkus and Mia Metcalf, are the team’s top sprinters. Senior Amanda Klobucar is the top returning hurdler, and will be joined in the 100 highs and 300 lows by juniors Cassandra Marsh and Kaitlin Erdmann, along with sophomore Ciarra Sroda. Klobucar will also pole vault.

Junior Anne Morgan is the top returning triple and high jumper, with sophomore Michelle Straw also expected to compete in both events.

Marsden hopes sophomores Kayla Rohr and Carley Traynor can provide points in the shot put and discus.

“We’re going to have to rely on quite a few freshmen and sophomores,” Marsden said. “Hopefully, we can continue to work hard and improve as the season progresses.”