Raider Girls Track Season Preview

Our next spring sports preview takes a closer look at the Portland High School girls track and field team.

The girls are coached by John Novara, who is in his 10th year coaching track at Portland.

As for his outlook on this year’s team, Novara says that the team “has a nice mixture of speed, distance runners, and several quality field event athletes. Only one freshman on the team, so it is upper class dominated.

One notable loss to graduation is all-state thrower Renee Johnson, who is now throwing for Ferris State University.

The Raiders do have some key returners. All-state hurdler Olivia Sandborn is back after finishing 7th place in Division 2. All-state long jumper Lesley Barker who finished 6th place in Division 2 also returns.

Novara also has high hopes for new comers Jolee Pung at high jump and mid distance, Kailen Brennan at mid distance, and Keirstyn Blaschka in long jump and sprints

The Raiders finished 4th in CAAC White in 2017.

The 2018 roster includes:

Last Name First Name Grade

Babcock Ari 10

Badgero Bailey 10

Barker Lesley 11

Blaschka Keirstyn 12

Blaschka Talia 9

Brennan Kailen 12

Brownell Rylee 10

Cassel Jocelyn 10

Cathcart Mackenzie 10

Cowden Mikayla 10

Fazakerley Macey 11

Foote Olivia 11

Gallt Olivia 10

Gardner Olivia 12

Goodman Karley 11

Goodman Aubrey 9

Gross Delaney 12

Kapcia Rachel 12

Martin Hannah 10

Meagher Kelsie 11

Noble Clara 10

Pung Jolee 11

Rutkowski Ellie 11

Sandborn Olivia 12

Sandbrook Allison 12

Wakely Hannah 10

Wilson Julia 10