by Mark Cheffey
PHS boys track and field coach, Nick Powell, has 23 athletes this year hoping to make their mark as far up as the state meet.
Evan Pennewell warms up before practicing the pole vault. The sophomore is the PHS boys track team’s only returning state qualifier.
“We have a really good group of kids who are super excited to compete this year,” Powell said. “Almost all of them competed last year and have experience competing at the varsity level.”
Leading the way is Evan Pennewell, a sophomore and the team’s lone returning state qualifier in the pole vault.
PHS boys track athletes run some sprints on the football field.
Returning sectional qualifiers include senior, Jose Juarez; junior, Gideon Bogue; and sophomores, Marty “Trey” Smyser and Daniel Dames.
Others who Powell hopes to see make an impact this year are seniors, Ethan Redd and Connor Bross; juniors, Carter Harper and Carson Hicks, who was one place away from advancing to sectionals last year at the district meet in the high jump, sophomores, Jackson Hicks and Parker Bier; and freshman, Luke Sheppard.
Rounding out the roster are senior, Dylan Jagger and Owen Mason Kiefaber, juniors, Gage Barnett, Daniel Reid and Tyler Zeiger, sophomores, Josh McKeown, Tanner Strubinger, Ian Mitchell, Landon Carroll and Tyler Wilson, and freshman, Landon Jurado.
2023 PHS Track
& Field Schedule
3/27 at S Shelby Open
3/30 at Monroe City
4/4 at C.C. Invitational
4/6 Palmyra Open
4/11 at High. Relays
4/15 at Jefferson City
4/17 at Mont. Co. Invite
4/21 at Brookfield Invite
4/25 at Macon Invitational
4/28 at Hannibal Relays
5/1 at CCC meet Macon
5/8 at Centralia Invite
