By RICHIE HALL
After winning a first-ever state championship in 2023, Noblesville’s girls track team is hoping to build more success in 2024.
The Millers definitely have the talent and the personnel to defend their trophy. Fourteen of the 18 athletes that competed on the Noblesville state team last season are back, there are some freshmen that are already performing well, and the Millers have some newcomers to the team.
“This is a special team for anyone to be a part of,” said Noblesville coach Jim Pearce. “As coaches, we are very fortunate to have the chance to guide these young women to greatness. The collection of talent on our team is deep and impressive. However, there are no guarantees at any time. We have to see ourselves in the position of chasing everyone else. We need to, as Reggie Wayne of the Indianapolis Colts used to do, put on our construction hard hat and go to work every single day. The way to reach our goals is this hard work, determination, and the teamwork we can all offer one another.”
Pearce said Noblesville is excited to have the opportunity to defend its state championship. He called the 2024 season “an exciting time.”
“Our focus is always oriented around team and team performance, rather than individual accolades,” said Pearce. “We always talk about being humble and just getting better each and every day. Since we rely on one another, there is no pressure on any one individual.”
Seven key seniors are part of the Millers team, starting with Hannah Alexander, the defending state champion in the discus. Alexander won that event with a personal record of 158 feet, 8 inches and also finished third in the shot put. She threw 45 feet, 8.5 inches in that event, but has a PR of 47-4.25.
Delaney Teachnor returns a fourth-place finish in the pole vault; she cleared 12 feet at state and has gone as high as 12-6. Freshman Amelia Smith could make an impact in the pole vault in her first year; Pearce said Smith has already reached 12-6.
Senior Maya McDonald, who finished on the podium at the state swim meet last month (third in the breaststroke), is competing in her second season of track and field. Pearce said McDonald “threw a PR in the discus at nearly 91 feet” and also tried the high jump – where she cleared 5 feet.
Over on the track, senior Summer Rempe placed sixth at state last year in the 800 with a time of 2 minutes, 13.16 seconds. Her PR in that event is 2:12.72, and she has gone under 5 minutes in the 1600 and under 11 minutes in the 3200 run.
The Millers have their usual strong distance group, with seniors Nadia Perez and Kennedy Applegate and juniors Brinkley Cooper and Riley Flynn all returning. Senior Maddie Coates and junior Mya Baker return back as solid sprinters. Cooper, Flynn and junior Kate Rollins were part of a state-qualifying 4×400 relay. Sophomore Ansley Applegate will contribute in the distance events.
Two more freshmen are getting attention. Tae Gates already has some notable results, going 16-8 in the long jump and clearing 5-4 in the high jump. Gates will also run in the 100 dash, with Sophia Shields a possible 400 star.
“We know that this year, challenges will come from Warren Central, Hamilton Southeastern, Carmel, Brownsburg, and Heritage Christian at the State level. We run in the highly competitive Hoosier Crossroads Conference, in Hamilton County, in the HSE Sectional, and the Lafayette Regional. We are grateful to be in these places because it provides us with top-level competition. There are no breaks from facing the best and this makes us better,” said Pearce.
“In order for us to continue our success, we need to stay focused within ourselves. When a team wins a State Championship, they draw everyone’s best in each competition. There is also a great deal of noise — people who want to break us down, people who want to make comments. We tell our athletes to take no part in the noise — to ignore it — it’s just part of who we are and where we are right now. All we can do is do what we do. We know when we just do what we do, it will be excellent.”