NEW WASHINGTON — Anyone who thought Colonel Crawford’s track and field cupboard was bare this spring may want to look again.

Sure, Katie Ruffener and Julia and Corin Feik have graduated following their podium appearances at the state track and field meet last June. So has Carter Valentine and other members of the team.

Ruffener set state records and won three firsts, Julia finished sixth in the shot, Corin fifth in the discus and Valentine placed fourth in the long jump.

But coach Preston Foy is quick to point to the large number of returnees for both the Eagles and the Lady Eagles.

“We’re just trying to get better each week. The boys return a solid team from last year, but we’ve got to figure some things out; filling some holes in our lineup,” he said.

Both boys and girls teams finished seventh at the Stache Dash at Buckeye Central Friday night.

Some members competed Saturday in the 90th Mehock Relays where the girls took second place in a very talented field.

Cece Chase set a school record time in the 3200 (11:17.42).

“We’re just trying to get as healthy as we can,” Foy said. “A lot of girls are returning. They all didn’t podium, but they were down in Columbus. So, when they come to meets like this, they should do pretty well.”

The Lady Eagles 4X400 meter relay finished fifth in their heat with a 4:07.37 and missed out on advancing to the finals by .26 seconds.

The quartet of Mira Holt, Rylee Ritzhaupt, Reagan Ritzhaupt and Gabby Roston had a stellar season, and all are back.

“They’re kind of excited to see what kind of success they can have and continue what this program has done,” Foy said.

Eight senior boys and six senior girls dot the Crawford rosters.

Gabby Roston is just a sophomore, but she’s a veteran.

“We have really good seniors. It’s motivating. We know we lost Katie and the Feicks. But we have goals that we want to reach,” she said.

“I normally pole vault and run the 4X8 and the 4X4. I worked really hard at pole vault, practicing in Columbus every week. But it’s a process and it takes time, but it’s enjoyable because everyone is super positive trying to make each other better.”

Roston sees improvement in her vaulting. She took third at the Mehock and added a fourth-place finish in the 400 meters.

“I’ve gotten a lot faster. My personal best right now is 11-feet, 4 inches. Hopefully by the end of the year I can jump toward 12 feet.”

“I’m excited for this year. Being at state last year, I want to go back very badly.”

Foy lists a number of his squads’ strengths.

“On the girls side, we’ve got a lot of sprinters back. The Ritzhaupt twins, Mira Holt, Hailey Slagle. We have hurdlers with Mira and Reagan.”

Holt took fifth in the 300 hurdles and third in the long jump at Mehock. Slagle took second in the 100.

Last fall Colonel Crawford got to the state cross country meet.

“All those girls are running, like Cici, Gabby, Izzy (Roston), Rylinn Edgington and Brynn Bruner,” Foy said.

“We also have good senior throwers, who had to wait their turn because they were behind the Feik girls, Molli Teglovic and Emma Scott.”

Lexi Rush also is a thrower and finished fourth in the discus (93-feet, 11 inches.)

Teglovic placed seventh in the discus and sixth in the shot put at Mehock, with Scott eighth in the discus. Bruner took seventh in pole vault and eighth in the 3200 meters.

Junior Niyah Shipman was second in the state in the high jump last year at 5-feet, 5 inches.

She placed second Friday night to Lexi Plott, going 5-feet. Plott broke the meet record clearing 5-feet, 7 and 1/4 inch. On Saturday she took third place.

Rylee Ritzhaupt took fourth at 4-feet, 8 inches.

“Ayla McKibben also high jumps. So, we are pretty deep there,” Foy said. She was fourth at the Mehock.

On the boys side, they return plenty of speed.

“The 4X100 team we return one guy. Trevor Vogt is on that team this year. He’s one of the top hurdlers in the state. He just missed qualifying for state last year. First-team all-Ohio wide receiver and a basketball player. Just a good athlete.”

Lucas Foy, Ryan McMichael, and Ethan Holt join Vogt on that relay.

“The distance crew is very talented but young; mostly all are sophomores and freshmen.”

McMichael took third in the 100 meters in 11.93.

Lane Kozinski, Braeden Grau and Adam Scott also will see time on the oval.

“We have a couple throwers who will be good. Parker Ketterman, who played baseball, came out to throw discus this year. He’s an all-Ohio defensive end and he’s starting to click now with the throws,” Foy said.

Eli Brewer, who was second in the N10 last year, is a returning shot putter as well.

“There’s a few other younger kids. It’s just trying to find the right holes to plug.

“Kids want to be out there, but with boys track especially it takes a while for them to develop. If they’re patient, they will be rewarded for it this spring,” Foy said.

Full Stache Dash results can be found at baumspage.com/track.