{"id":288,"date":"2023-04-03T20:28:58","date_gmt":"2023-04-03T20:28:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/?p=288"},"modified":"2023-04-04T23:42:30","modified_gmt":"2023-04-04T23:42:30","slug":"bellmont-track-ready-for-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/2023\/04\/03\/bellmont-track-ready-for-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Bellmont track ready for 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>By Randy Hisner<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>WZBD Sports<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bellmont girls\u2019 track coach Carl Risch, in his 30<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0year at the helm\u2014and with six sectional titles and a pair of small school state indoor championships to his credit\u2014mentions two key words in connection with this year\u2019s team: numbers and patience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"783\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/98.158.76.108\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/77B2B3DA-5F96-45DE-8A3F-18D651ADF451_1_201_a-837x1024.jpeg?resize=640%2C783\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-313\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/77B2B3DA-5F96-45DE-8A3F-18D651ADF451_1_201_a-scaled.jpeg?resize=837%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 837w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/77B2B3DA-5F96-45DE-8A3F-18D651ADF451_1_201_a-scaled.jpeg?resize=245%2C300&amp;ssl=1 245w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/77B2B3DA-5F96-45DE-8A3F-18D651ADF451_1_201_a-scaled.jpeg?resize=768%2C940&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/77B2B3DA-5F96-45DE-8A3F-18D651ADF451_1_201_a-scaled.jpeg?resize=1255%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1255w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/77B2B3DA-5F96-45DE-8A3F-18D651ADF451_1_201_a-scaled.jpeg?resize=1673%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1673w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/77B2B3DA-5F96-45DE-8A3F-18D651ADF451_1_201_a-scaled.jpeg?resize=1024%2C1253&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/77B2B3DA-5F96-45DE-8A3F-18D651ADF451_1_201_a-scaled.jpeg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Haleigh Wesley is one of many seniors on this year&#8217;s team who will be major contributors as the Bellmont Braves fight for conference and sectional championships. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe have great numbers, over 40 girls,\u201d he said. \u201cI can\u2019t remember having this many. We\u2019ve got a lot of new kids.\u201d He noted that 27 of his 42 athletes are freshmen or sophomores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/98.158.76.108\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/New-Recording-16.mp3\"><\/audio><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Coach Risch discusses his season outlook for 2023 for the BHS Track &amp; Field team. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s where the patience comes in. \u201cTrack is not a sport that you are going to learn in a month, so it\u2019s going to take some time,\u201d he said, \u201cbut I like the makeup of the kids and their willingness to work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s inexperience there,\u201d he added, \u201cbut we certainly have some veterans left over, definitely some good senior leadership\u2014in fact, outstanding senior leadership.\u201d Four of the seniors he will rely heavily on are sprinter Haleigh Wesley, thrower Sierra Schmidt, distance runner Ellen Scott, and 400\/800 specialist Sydney Keane. They were his top four scorers last year, Wesley leading the pack with 120.75 points. Schmidt, scoring routinely in both the shot and the discus, was second with 89.5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wesley has posted strong PRs of 13.0 in the 100 meters and 26.93 in the 200 meters. She finished third in the NE8 200 meters and fourth in the 100. She also scored in both events in the New Haven sectional\u2014fifth in the 200, sixth in the 100. She has qualified for regional in the 200 the past two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/98.158.76.108\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/New-Recording-13.mp3\"><\/audio><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Bellmont senior Haleigh Wesley is one of the best athletes in Adams County and will finish her prep career this spring as a sprinter for the track team. She discusses her season outlook with Randy Hisner. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Schmidt is one of the top throwers in the area, as evidenced by her runnerup sectional finish in the discus with a personal best throw of 115-9. She also took second in the discus in the NE8 meet and placed in the shot in both meets as well (fifth in NE8, sixth in sectional).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"716\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/98.158.76.108\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/BD36031F-28C0-4417-9313-A16382510783_1_201_a-915x1024.jpeg?resize=640%2C716\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-315\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/BD36031F-28C0-4417-9313-A16382510783_1_201_a-scaled.jpeg?resize=915%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 915w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/BD36031F-28C0-4417-9313-A16382510783_1_201_a-scaled.jpeg?resize=268%2C300&amp;ssl=1 268w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/BD36031F-28C0-4417-9313-A16382510783_1_201_a-scaled.jpeg?resize=768%2C860&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/BD36031F-28C0-4417-9313-A16382510783_1_201_a-scaled.jpeg?resize=1372%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1372w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/BD36031F-28C0-4417-9313-A16382510783_1_201_a-scaled.jpeg?resize=1829%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1829w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/BD36031F-28C0-4417-9313-A16382510783_1_201_a-scaled.jpeg?resize=1024%2C1147&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/BD36031F-28C0-4417-9313-A16382510783_1_201_a-scaled.jpeg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/BD36031F-28C0-4417-9313-A16382510783_1_201_a-scaled.jpeg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Sierra Schmidt is one of the top throwers in the area and will be a threat to qualify for this year&#8217;s State Finals. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>She has big discus goals for this season. \u201cI\u2019d like to get first in sectionals and do better at regional,\u201d she said. (She was eighth at regional last year.) \u201cI\u2019d like to go to state. I think 120 (feet) could get me a spot for state, but I\u2019m hoping to go even farther than that.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/98.158.76.108\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/New-Recording-12.mp3\"><\/audio><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bellmont junior Sierra Schmidt discusses her 2022 season and the goals she has set for 2023. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Senior Addie Kintz (83-10) will be #2 in the discus, while junior Dodger Krol, with a PR of 31-3.5, is not far behind Schmidt in the shot put.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"583\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/98.158.76.108\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/D96CA3E4-C18D-4CA7-8CAA-78D18F71A342_1_201_a-1-1024x932.jpeg?resize=640%2C583\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-316\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/D96CA3E4-C18D-4CA7-8CAA-78D18F71A342_1_201_a-1.jpeg?resize=1024%2C932&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/D96CA3E4-C18D-4CA7-8CAA-78D18F71A342_1_201_a-1.jpeg?resize=300%2C273&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/D96CA3E4-C18D-4CA7-8CAA-78D18F71A342_1_201_a-1.jpeg?resize=768%2C699&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/D96CA3E4-C18D-4CA7-8CAA-78D18F71A342_1_201_a-1.jpeg?resize=1536%2C1398&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/D96CA3E4-C18D-4CA7-8CAA-78D18F71A342_1_201_a-1.jpeg?resize=2048%2C1865&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/D96CA3E4-C18D-4CA7-8CAA-78D18F71A342_1_201_a-1.jpeg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/D96CA3E4-C18D-4CA7-8CAA-78D18F71A342_1_201_a-1.jpeg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Addie Kintz is one of the most athletic members of this year&#8217;s senior class and will compete in a number of events for the Braves.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Risch\u2019s distance crew looks strong; he returns all four members of the regional-qualifying 4X800 relay team: Keane, Scott, junior Keeley Carpenter, and sophomore Madison Witte. The squad took third in the sectional and just missed scoring at regional with a ninth-place finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keane\u2019s 2:33.7 split in the 4X800 was second on the team to the 2:32.7 of Carpenter, who also posted the best open 800 time of 2:34.9. She\u2019ll be Risch\u2019s leader in that event. Keane\u2019s PR and team-leading time of 1:03.81 in the 400 earned her a fifth-place spot in the sectional. She\u2019s a workhorse for Risch, often running the 4X800, the open 400, and the anchor leg on the 4X400.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Scott recorded the team\u2019s best times in both distance races last year (6:07 in the 1600 meters, 12:39 in the 3200). Junior Karly Teeter and sophomore Mackenzie Selzer will provide depth in those events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"648\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/98.158.76.108\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/5B306CF9-A5B0-477D-ABE3-352A6120C840_1_201_a-1012x1024.jpeg?resize=640%2C648\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-317\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/5B306CF9-A5B0-477D-ABE3-352A6120C840_1_201_a-scaled.jpeg?resize=1012%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1012w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/5B306CF9-A5B0-477D-ABE3-352A6120C840_1_201_a-scaled.jpeg?resize=297%2C300&amp;ssl=1 297w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/5B306CF9-A5B0-477D-ABE3-352A6120C840_1_201_a-scaled.jpeg?resize=768%2C777&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/5B306CF9-A5B0-477D-ABE3-352A6120C840_1_201_a-scaled.jpeg?resize=1518%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1518w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/5B306CF9-A5B0-477D-ABE3-352A6120C840_1_201_a-scaled.jpeg?resize=2024%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 2024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/5B306CF9-A5B0-477D-ABE3-352A6120C840_1_201_a-scaled.jpeg?resize=1024%2C1036&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/5B306CF9-A5B0-477D-ABE3-352A6120C840_1_201_a-scaled.jpeg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/5B306CF9-A5B0-477D-ABE3-352A6120C840_1_201_a-scaled.jpeg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Ellen Scott has been one of the top distance runners in both cross country and in track and field over the past four seasons. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to running a key leg on the 4X800, Witte is the team\u2019s top 300-meter hurdler with a PR of 53.04. The 100-meter hurdles could be an area of concern for the Braves. Risch hopes to see a newcomer or two emerge in that event.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the high jump, senior Karah Myers (4-6) and junior Taylor Louis (4-4) lead the way, and Kintz, at 7-0, is the top pole vaulter. Wesley (15-4) and Keane (14-0.5) were the Braves\u2019 best long jumpers last year, but with their already crowded event schedules, Risch doesn\u2019t know how often they will jump.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the smallest school in the NE8, Bellmont has its work cut out for it in the conference meet. Last year the Braves were seventh of eight, and Risch is aware of the challenge. \u201cThe NE8 is loaded from top to bottom,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s tough to move up, but that\u2019s the goal.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Randy Hisner WZBD Sports Bellmont girls\u2019 track coach Carl Risch, in his 30th\u00a0year at the helm\u2014and with<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":315,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[13,15,26],"class_list":["post-288","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-bellmont","tag-featured","tag-sports"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/BD36031F-28C0-4417-9313-A16382510783_1_201_a-scaled.jpeg?fit=2286%2C2560&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/288","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=288"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/288\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/315"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=288"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=288"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=288"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}