09/07/2001

BLUE HEN CONFERENCE

CHARTER

Top boys runners: Ramtink Amin, sr.; Kevin Burke, sr.; John Busch, sr.; Colin Dentel-Post, sr.; Danny Dougherty, jr.; Mason Hickey, so.; Chad Hummel, jr.; Pat Lampkin, sr.; Jeremy Mulligan, jr.; Brad Paski, sr.; Mike Pyle, jr.

Top girls runners: Pooja Aysola, so.; Casey Drosehn, jr.; Tanya Frisby, sr.; Kenya Hodges, sr. B.A. Hoffman, sr.; Meredith Jackson, so.; Jackie Kozlowski, so.; Lauren Kremer, jr.; Rachel Ramlochen, so.; Chrissy Reyes, so.; Emily Smith, jr.; Sarah Smith, jr.

Outlook: One to watch on the boys and girls fronts. Both teams are considerably deep, paced by Dentel-Post (boys) and Frisby (girls).

MIDDLETOWN

Top boys runners: Matt Ayers, sr.; Joe Barry, jr.; Steve Blanco, jr.; Chris Bramwell, so.; Erick Carlson, sr.; Justin Faulkner, sr.; Andrew Wilber, so.; Jeff Wilber, sr.

Top girls runners: Cody Beckhorn, jr.; Laura Billings, jr.; Josie Dubois, sr.; Katelyn Ealer, so.; Lindsey Ealer, jr.; Jenna Flickinger, sr.; Jenn Fose, sr.; Sami Nimmerichter, so.; Dani Ward, sr.; Lisa Young, jr.

Outlook: Boys will remain in picture, behind J.Wilber, Ayars, Blanco. Girls will take great strides, especially welcoming back Billings and Flickinger from injuries.

NEWARK

Top boys runners: Tim Brock, jr.; Ryan Dotts, sr; Austin Knight, sr.; Mike Marra, jr.; Brett Matsumoto, sr.; Derrick Westbrook, sr.; Pat Wilcox, jr.

Top girls runners: April Desai, sr.; Dulcey Gregory, sr.; Sarah Hammond, jr.; Katie Lyell, so.; Alice McDermott, sr.; Sarah Mitchell, so.; Enya Spence, so.

Outlook: Top-line runners in Knight, Wilcox. Boys' team will hotly contend for Flight A. Girls team is on younger side.

CATHOLIC CONFERENCE

PADUA

Top runners: Beth Meany, so; Erin Lord, sr.; Colleen Reid, sr.

Outlook: Pandas have some of state's better top-line runners.

ST. ELIZABETH

Top girls runners: Becky Grey, so.; Stephanie Sowden, fr.

Outlook: Grey is among conference's best, but team-wise St. E is young.

URSULINE

Top runners: Amanda Dougherty, jr.; Kelly Mark, so.; Julie Taylor, so.; Jenna Whalen, jr.; Kim Whalen, sr.

Outlook: Raiders have an athletic group and will vie with the best.

HENLOPEN CONFERENCE

DOVER

Top boys runners: Aaron Baldwin, jr.; Chris Chirillo, sr.; Charles Gibson, so.; Gary Smith, jr.

Top girls runners: Kasey Chambers, sr.; Lashell Green, sr.; Tiffanee Lee, jr.; Charlene Kemerler, sr.; Jessica Sinks, sr.; Katie Walsh, so.

Outlook: Both Senators squads have experience but might struggle against conference's better teams, such as Caesar Rodney and Cape Henlopen.

LAKE FOREST

Top boys runners: Steve O'Beda, sr.; Mike Hazeltine, jr.; Adison Lukecart, so.

Top girls runners: Lena Ewing, sr.; Monica Thomas, sr.; Holly Wilson, sr.

Outlook: The girls team has one of state's best 1-2 duos in Ewing and Wilson. Only depth will hinder the chances of both squads.

MILFORD

Top boys runners: Chad Carpenter, jr.; Scott Hall, jr.; Brandon Miller, sr.; Chris Morton, sr.; Paul Rescigno, sr.; Robbie Rescigno, sr.; Chris Steward, sr.

Top girls runners: Amy Mallamo, so.; Amanda Meade, so.; Brigid O'Neill, sr.; Megan Paston, jr.; Dana Rathfon, so.; Kourtney Short, so.; Zerphlee Watson, sr.

Outlook: Boys are on the rise while the girls try to avoid a step back after graduation losses.

SEAFORD

Top boys runners: Seth Elder, sr.; Matt Hendrickson, sr.; Brian Lloyd, so.; John Maley, sr.; Andrew Perciful, so.

Top girls runners: Cristina Garmendia, so.; Kate LaPrad, jr.; Caitlin McGroerty, so.

Outlook: The girls are defending state champs and will certainly contend again, but won't be as deep. The boys are going to be in the hunt, at least conference-wise, as well.

SMYRNA

Top boys runners: Nate Merritt, jr.; William Nicholson, so.; David Pennington, sr.; Shawn Preister, fr.; Ben Taylor, jr.; John Worrall, jr.

Top girls runners: Katisha Evans, sr.; Debbie Magri, jr.; Ashley Mazujian, so.; Melissa Nicholson, sr.

Outlook: Boys will have a strong pack, though girls will be a younger team.

INDEPENDENT CONFERENCE

SANFORD

Top boys runners: Jon Ament, sr.; Dan Ciarrocki, sr.; Steve Fontana, sr.; Ajax Gupta, sr.

Top girls runner: Molly Hannum, so.

Outlook: Some top boys returnees, including Ciarrocki, but both squds will battle depth.

ST. ANDREW'S

Top girls runners: Lizzie Lea, sr.; Abbie Rockwood, sr.; Morgan Wilson, sr.

Outlook: Saints' girls will rank among top teams in conference.

TATNALL

Top boys runners: Adam Fullhart, sr.; Kyle Kershner, so.; Thomas Peter, sr.; Mike Ward, so.

Top girls runners: Maggie Brown, sr.; Ali Kingston, so.; Meredith Lambert, sr.

Outlook: Low numbers hurts team-wise. Lambert rates among the state's best.

NONCONFERENCE

SALESIANUM

Top runners: Sean Gambogi, jr.; Ryan Hamill, jr.; Jay Hartnett, jr; Tommy Lord, jr; P.J. Meany, jr.; Mike McKee, sr.; Mike Zeberkiewicz, jr.

Outlook: A corps of juniors return the state title trophy to the Sals.

CARAVEL

Top boys runners: Ryan Isbert, sr.; Jamie Juno, sr.; Ross Megargel, jr.; Mike Quashne, jr.; Matt White, jr.

Top girls runner: Lorenna Lee, sr.

Outlook: Program starts to build with track runners' experience.