Trojans Add A Coach, Ready for Successful Season

Moving into Oakley's role is Greg Rogers, who is in his first year as a health and physical education teacher at CHS. He will coach the Charleston boys team.

Chris Hawk, who was a volunteer coach with the middle school cross country program, will now be an assistant coach for the high school team.

"We are super excited about our coaching staff this fall. Greg wrapped up a remarkable running career at Eastern Illinois which saw him come in as a walk-on freshman and ultimately end up on the podium as the third-place finisher in the Ohio Valley Conference 10K in his senior year," McInerney said. "He brings tremendous knowledge and love for the sport with him every day. Chris is a technology pro through and through. More importantly, he loves to run and wants to share his passion for running with our young men and women."

McInerney has a young and talented girls group again this season. Last year with only one senior in the top seven, the Lady Trojans qualified for the sectional meet after a second-place finish at regionals.

Megan Garrett led the way as a freshman and finished in 57th place at the Class 2A state meet. Garrett has been dealing with an injury and will miss Monday's meet against Mattoon, but she should be back for Saturday's Charleston Invite.

"Megan is looking to have another outstanding fall season. The experience of competing at the state meet last November as a freshman and then following that with All-State honors in the 800-meter run in track have really boosted her confidence and vision," McInerney said.

Gracie Spoonhour was the Trojans' No. 3 runner as a freshman and was right with Julia Griffin, who graduated, at the end of the season. McInerney is looking for Spoonhour to take the next step this season.

"Gracie had a really nice spring track season and followed that up with a solid summer of training," McInerney said. "I am excited to see if she can close the gap on Megan just a bit and give us a solid one-two punch."

Juniors Anna Sipes and Lydia Madlem return. Both ran in the top seven last year.

"Anna is an outstanding young runner and a good leader. Lydia is showing signs of working her way up into the top five," McInerney said. "Then we have a very nice group of freshman girls and newcomers who are working hard to make the top seven."

Freshmen Sophie Kattenbraker, Lilly Long, Casey Fisher and Aftyn Oliver join the team, and sophomores Isabella Kiefer and Maysa Hutton and junior Amanda Davis are all in the mix for a top seven spot.

"Our focus has been to try and ease these newcomers into the program while challenging our top girls to lead through their work ethic as well as their hearts. So far there has been a really amazing chemistry among these ladies and if that continues, some pretty special things should happen in October," McInerney said. "Our top-level girls and boys are really focusing on the Apollo Conference, the sectional and state. The early season meets are strong building blocks to their ultimate goals."

The Charleston boys program did lose Lance Niemerg and Nick Oakley, an All-State runner last season, to graduation. Oakley is running at Eastern Illinois now. However, four runners return and are led by Austin Ames, who was the team's No. 2 runner last season and is a senior.

Ames qualified for the 2A state meet last year and finished in 28th place.

"I think Austin is really ready to emerge and make some noise for us," McInerney said. "He learned from both Nick and coach Oakley the past three years and just missing All-State honors last fall has really served to motivate and fuel his fire. He is super fit and ready to go."

Senior Finn O'Neal returns along with juniors Josh Hoh and Noah Oakley. McInerney said all three have had a good summer.

"We have an outstanding trio chasing Austin. They are three fine runners that we are counting on for their front-running positions as well as their leadership bringing along some of the younger guys into the five, six, seven positions that are so critical," McInerney said. "All three have worked hard through the summer and have the experience needed to make the jump to the next level."

Last season the Trojans didn't have a single freshman on the boys roster. This year there are eight freshmen, and three of them are competing for a spot in the top seven.

"The CMS program is playing a critical role here. Trenton King, Mason Reeley and Josiah Moser are three freshmen that have shown they can compete for a top seven spot. Juniors Sterling Stowell and Will Cope are more experienced runners who have been working hard for those spots as well," McInerney said. "We definitely have a nice mix on both squads of young and old. It should make for a really exciting and memorable season if everyone keeps working hard and taking care of themselves and each other."