Southmont track and field coach Desson Hannum, who also teaches physical education and coaches football at Southmont, has seen it all this year.
He knows the COVID-19 protocols that have been put in place and understands his athletes know them too. And luckily for the Mounties following a lost season in 2020, many track and field athletes have participated in other sports this school year.
“Most of the kids are used to things being a little different with the all the precautions that we try to take,” Hannum said. “It has just become something that we are used to at this point during the year. It is good to be back on the track after missing last season. We do have some athletes on our team that track is their main sport, but most are involved with other sports. It really is a sport that benefits all sports. Our goal as a program is to run fast, lift heavy, and jump high. By doing this I think it benefits all of sport programs.”
And the Mounties will have some depth on both the track and in the field, especially on the boys’ side. Junior Trent Jones will lead the Mountie boys’ on the track in the sprints, while senior Dillan Lauy was a multi-winner at the county and Sagamore Conference meet as a sophomore in 2019. Hannum says they will also rely on junior returner Avery Saunders.
On the girls’ side, Southmont returns Addi Charles, Tiffany Dittmer, and Jordan Stanley.
“It has been a little different, because essentially we have two freshmen classes after the sophomores missed out on an entire year,” Hannum said. “The good thing is we that we have several weeks of practice before our first meet. This has given us time to address main different situations and events. It has also given is time to allow our kids to experience many different events.”
Hannum expects many freshmen and sophomores to step up this season, including Sam Line, Gabe Androusky, Seth Tolliver, Joey Riggen, Slayde Gardner, Ryler Mitton, and Nick Curtis on the boys’ side, and Faith Allen, Saylor Woods, Brianna Heninger, and DeLorean Mason on the girls’ side.
Southmont opens the season with a dual-meet against Crawfordsville today.
