The Hornets boys track team is a full house this season with 27 runners and throwers, and those numbers mean two entries per event.

Wednesday, April 05, 2000

The Hornets boys track team is a full house this season with 27 runners and throwers, and those numbers mean two entries per event.

"Our position will be to have to in every event, and that’s a lot different than last year when we didn’t have anyone in some events," Coal Grove coach Nick Miller said.

Heading the list of returning players is senior Jeff Hamilton and senior distance runner Isaac Wood.

Wood was second in the Ohio Valley Conference in cross country as he led the Hornets to the league championship.

"Hamilton should be one of the better pole vaulters in the area. He’s cleared 13-feet and he should get better," said Miller. "And Wood is one of the better distance runners in a group of good distance runners. We should have a good 4×800 relay team."

The Hornets will be blessed with some speed this time around led by junior Jason Adams, sophomore Shaun Smith, freshman Rocky Pemberton, and Hamilton who might be the team’s fastest runner.

"Those guys will run sprints and relays," said Miller.

Coal Grove throwers will be deep with senior Brandon Hicks, sophomore Ricky Wynn, and freshman Dan Cordle.

"Hicks has thrown 138 in practice and was second in the OVC last year, so he’s a good one. Wynn and Cordle are good young kids. Wynn should be good in the shot put."

Sophomores Chris Ferris and Dennis Wilson will work the high jump and long jump, as will Hamilton who has gone 20 feet in the long jump.

"We’ve got a lot of kids and they’re working really hard," said Miller. "We’re pretty young and inexperienced. We only have five seniors, so we’ve got a lot of teaching to do. But they should get better and better as the season goes along."