The Trojans did not lose any seniors from last year’s team, which featured some of the best jumpers in the Apollo Conference. With the bulk of the team returning, the Trojans are hopeful to place higher than last year’s fifth-place finish at the conference meet. 

Here is a preview of the upcoming season. 

2021 REVIEW: Senior Wyatt Strader, who won the Apollo Conference in the long and triple jump, headlines this year’s squad for second-year coach Josh Stice. Caleb Oakley had one of the better finishes by the team after finishing third-place finish in the 110-hurdles. Zach Stout and Payton Cox placed third and fourth in the pole vault, respectively. Senior Jacob Flight placed fourth in the triple jump and fifth in the high jump.

KEY RETURNERS: Every contributor who placed at the conference meet returns. That includes Strader, who recently placed third in the long jump at the Charleston Indoor Invitational. Strader will look to defend his conference title in both the long and triple jumps. Jacob Flight, who placed fourth in the triple jump at the CHS Indoor Invite, could be a fixture in the long, triple and high jumps. 

Zach Stout, one of the team’s top sprinters, is the top pole vaulter, but Payton Cox should be near the top as well. Alex Stout will be the team’s top thrower, while Luca Carcasi will be the team’s top distance runner, competing in both the 1,600 and 3200. 

BIGGEST CHALLENGES: Last year, the team fared much better in the field events. They will need to improve in the running events this season. Specifically, the team was young in the 100 and 200 meters, as well as in the 800. 

KEY MEETS: Charleston competes in the Apollo Conference Indoor Championships this weekend. The team will host its first meet at home on April 5 and then the team will host another home meet on April 12. The Apollo Conference Championships will be held at Mount Zion on May 5. The Big Trojan Track Invitational will return Mary 11. 

ROSTER

Alex Stout, Austin Sikorski, Azriel Brazzell, Blake Homann, Caiden Pruett, Caleb Oakley, Dylan Hawk, Ethan McBride, Grant Kattenbraker, Jacob Flight, Jacob Roe, James Mills, Jeremiah Hayes, Keith Hendrix, Kyle Ross, Luca Carcasi, Luke Newell, Malik Perry, Mason Reeley, Nick Hawk, Owen Gerdes, Owen Wardrip, Peyton Cox, SJ Howell, Trey Cough, Tyler Hodges, Tyvon Smallhorn, Wyatt Strader, Zach Stout, Zayvion Johnson