By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
The Dowagiac track team will kick off its season today with a meet for the boys' team at Grand Valley State University.
The Chieftain girls' team will open its season on Tuesday at the same meet.
Dowagiac has a solid nucleus returning for its girls' team, but must find a way to replace multiple regional champion Ann O'Keefe, who has moved on to Bethel College.
Returning for the Chieftains are seniors Christynn Black, Kate Duszynski and Heather Stevens; juniors Jackie Green, Sada Nealey, Cari Spencer and Samantha Stone; and sophomores Moneisha Clabin and Kayleigh Hutchings.
In the field events, Nealey will lead Dowagiac.
Nealey, a junior, was a Big 16 champion in the long jump with a distance of 17-foot-31.5.
"We're looking for Sada to continue to show improvement," Dowagiac coach Ken Jordan said.
Duszynski is the top returner for the Chieftains in the throwing events. She will be joined by Spencer, Hutchings and sophomore Amanda Cross. Another addition to the throwing crew is junior Shardatsha Fitchett. "Shardatsha looks strong early on," Jordan said. "Our throwers could end up being a real strength for us."
O'Keefe dominated the area in pole vault over her four-year career. She will be replaced by juniors Katelyn Ernzen and Kathy Lindt. Both had experience in the vault.
Nealey will also be one of Dowagiac's top sprinters.
She will be joined by returners Green, Clabin, Black and sophomore Daisha Suggs.
"We have several promising freshmen, who could give our sprinting group a real boost," Jordan noted.
Stevens and Stone lead the distance and middle distance runners. Stone has moved up to middle distance from the sprints and hurdles.
Junior Chelsey Preston joins the squad. She brings her experience in cross country to add depth to the distance group.
"We only have 20 to 25 girls at this time, so our numbers are not really where we'd like them to be," Jordan said. "We're also missing some key athletes we thought we would have, but are hopeful we can make up for their loss with some of our young athletes."