It has been a miserable preseason weather-wise for the “spring” sports, and this week’s snow just added to the frustration.

However, until that snow, Chambersburg’s track & field teams were outside practicing every day except one. Unfortunately, the snow really hurt the team because the season-opening Tim Cook Invitational at CASHS, scheduled for this Saturday, had to be canceled.

Trojan boys coach Bob Walker said, “We always knew with an early-season invitational, you’re messing with the chance of bad weather.”

When the season does get under way, both the boys and girls teams hope to showcase some young talent in the sprints.

The girls include Bre’ya Clopper, Sydnie Gilbert and Morgan Mentzer as top sprinters/hurdlers, plus Ariana Appenzellar, Secret Shaffer and Maya Washington have experience in the sprints, and newcomers Shanelle Burrowes and twins Aniyah and Jacelyn Jones will add to the depth.

“I think a couple of the young kids will really make an impact,” girls coach Chris Monheim said.

For the boys, sophomore Tyeshawn Worrell placed ninth in the state indoor meet, recording a school record time of 7.05 in the 60 dash, and ran a 10.7 in a scrimmage Monday for the 100.

Walker also mentioned Nate Reed, Emmanuel Hewitt, Josue Chacon and Keyshawn Jones, and said, “Sprints is the deepest part of our team — we have nine kids who have run under 12 seconds and a lot are young.”

The top returner for the girls is Abby Yourkavitch, who was 14th in the state in the 1600 (8th in District 3) and fifth in the district 3200. She could compete anywhere from 400 to 3200.

Monheim said, “She’s looking as strong as ever and should have a great senior year.”

For the boys, who return 13 of their top 20 scorers from last year, Reed will be a multi athlete, competing in the sprints, jumps and javelin. Trayton Barnette was also a big scorer in the hurdles and relays.

Walker said, “We’ll be looking for places where Reed could win four events in a meet.”

Other boys who expect to have good seasons include Trentin Overcash (distance), James Merkle (distance), Luke Myers (middle distance), Brock Harmon (throws), Derek Moore (throws) and Shane Ambrose (pole vault).

Walker said, “I still think depth is an issue for us, but we have a good amount of ‘star’ athletes. We’re probably a better invitational team than a dual meet team at this point.”

For the girls, there is depth at the distance events, with Yourkavitch, Kaylee Mowery, Maddie Kinton, Anna DeGrange and Camaryn Ellis.

Monheim said, “I think we’re really strong on the track — there’s not a running event that we don’t have top talent in, and some depth. But we have some holes in the field events and we’re not strong or deep in the jumps. A lot of the technique events have been hurt by the cold weather.”

He said Brynn Vandegriff (high jump), Burrowes (jumps) and Layne Kimple (pole vault) should score points, and Deja Winkler will be the one of the best throwers.

NOTES: The Trojans’ first dual meet is Tuesday at CD East … The first home dual meet is April 3 vs. State College and Harrisburg … Clopper was 10th in District 3 last year in the 300 hurdles … Barnette was 9th in the 300 hurdles … Reed has hit 21 feet (his best) in the long jump this spring … Harmon has thrown over 50 feet in the shot put … Both Walker and Monheim believe State College is the team to beat in the Mid Penn Commonwealth … Chambersburg once again hosts the Mid Penn championships, on May 12.