Previewing the Mountain Pointe Girls

<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size:18px;"><strong>Peeking ahead to see what this spring holds....</strong></span></p>

Rees Young competes at state last spring for the Pride. Arizona Milesplit photo.

At all levels of sports, some programs are led by a great rah-rah leader others by coaches who go in there and take care of business. Coach Tim O'Neil is not a rah-rah coach, but his athletes certainly do some talking on the track. He does not want anyone to leave his program with regret. Rather, he challenges his athletes to get everything they can out of their track and field experience.

Not having regrets starts with practice. If you don't work hard in practice, you will inevitably have regrets come race day. A few athletes it's apparent that this does not happen with are hurdler Autumn Smith and jumpers Chynna Simmons and Rees Young. The three of them are the top returners for Mountain Pointe this season and seek to lead the Pride in points again this year.

Eager to improve on her strong marks as a freshman, Chynna has been working hard throughout the winter as well, competing at the USATF Zone West Championships. If all goes well she will join rising junior teammate Rees Young at state in an event or two this season. Rees has also been working hard this winter. Look for the two of them to battle head on in the jumps this season.

While Autumn Smith didn't join her teammates this winter, she comes back ready to compete with the best in the state and the entire southwest region. Placing 12th at last year's Great Southwest Invite Autumn cemented herself among the best hurdles in the four corners region. Look for her to improve on her marks this year. Owning the fastest returning time in the state regardless of classification, Autumn enters the season as the hands down favorite for the division 1 title in the 100H. She should also compete in the longer hurdles as well where she has the second fastest returning time.

The throwing events are a strong point for the Pride. Onnika Scott and Kayleigh Conlon lead the way. Kayleigh placed 5th last season in the discus, though just missed placing at state in the shot put. She has been working hard this winter on her shot put technique, as evidenced by her win at the USATF West Zone Championships. She hopes to join Onnika at state this coming year on the podium. Onnika is the defending 6th place shot putter at state and seeks to improve this spring.

In the pole vault Annika Krietenstein has been working with the Ultimate High Track Club during the off season. Coach Jeff Guy is certainly a vaulting genius, look for her to improve on her 12th place finish from state last year. Another athlete looking to improve this year for the Pride is senior Morgan Green. After placing 8th in the high jump last year at state she anticipates to moving a little higher on the podium this spring.

Last season the girls 4x800m just missed breaking the ten minute barrier. Led by Alexis Ramirez the team is still developing according to distance Coach Grant Sinclair. Look for them to have steady improvement throughout the season. As talent develops, tradition builds. Look for Mountain Pointe to improve on their 13th place finish from last year.