The Trojans’ 4x400-meter relay runs during the New Richmond Invitational.

The Trojans’ 4x400-meter relay runs during the New Richmond Invitational.
By Chris Chaney
Sun staff

The Glen Este Trojans track and field teams are making the best of what they’ve got. While they may not have the numbers to fill every event and compete to win meets that feature larger schools, the Trojans do boast a strong core of talent, much of it young, that will steal points away from other schools while building a foundation for Glen Este track and field going forward.

“We have such a small team, so we have a hard time scoring points and finishing in the team standings very high, but we’ve got some individuals have done really well,” head coach Ray Prueitt said.

The Trojans girls’ team is headed up by a mix of athletes that cover all aspects of the sport from sprinting to distance and in the field events.

A strong member of the team is freshman Ashley Mues. Mues competes in three events: the 100-meter dash, 4×100-meter relay and the pole vault. While she is still developing her running style, she has already surpassed coach’s expectations as a field athlete.

“Ashley has cleared 8-feet so far in pole vault,” Prueitt said. “As a freshman, that is really high for a someone to clear. Our girls 4×100 relay team has finished high in several meets as well.”

Along with Mues on that relay team are Lauren Bell, Morgan Gibson and Lindsey Singleton.

Prueitt expects Mues to do well in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference league meet and hopes that the relay team can place as well.

Another of the stars for the girls’ team is Jamie Thomas, the Trojans’ distance runner extraordinaire.

“(Thomas) has won the 800-meters and 1600-meters are a couple of meets,” the coach said. “She has a good chance of advancing into regionals in her events.”

For the boys, Prueitt is high on the field athletes as well, especially in throwing events.

“Our boys’ throwers, Alec Benjamin and Nick Renier have placed in the top three in the shot put and discus,” he said of his pair of seniors.

Also surprising the coaches is Jacob Hamilton, another freshman pole-vaulter, who has cleared 11-feet-6 inches. Perhaps not a threat to contend for the league title this year against some more experienced competition, Prueitt expects Hamilton to be one of the top freshman and someone who can contend down the road.

On the track, the boys’ 4×400-meter relay team is strong, made up of T.Jay Burbage, Kyle Luccasen, Jacob Hamilton and Brandon Holloway.

In the new league this season, which is new basically in name only – most of the teams are the same – Prueitt expects the stronger events to place and steal some points from the bigger schools. Despite their numbers, the talent on the Trojans’ roster allows for them to finish in the middle of the pack with significantly fewer athletes.

Getting into the postseason, Glen Este is hoping for those talented athletes to represent themselves and their schools exceptionally well with expectations of having multiple regional qualifiers in numerous events.

Prueitt believes that over the next month as the season draws to a close that his team can improve and become a force to be reckoned with come district tournament time.