LoPresti excited about Wauwatosa West's girls track and field team

The Wauwatosa West girls track and field team seems to be in good shape in most events, coach Jack LoPresti said.

He is especially excited about newcomer Azya McLin in the sprints. Already in her first meet, she won the 55-meter dash at the Nelson/Daniels Classic and also helped anchor a 4x200 relay that clocked a "nifty 1:54 and change."

"Azya McLin should spark a new school-wide interest in sprints at Tosa West," LoPresti said. "Not bad for Ms. McLin's first high school meet."

And with the talented sprint veteran Elise Ditscheit in the mix, one can see why LoPresti is optimistic.

Ditscheit enters the season as the top 400 meter runner once again and her speed was on display at the Nelson/Daniels Classic.

"Elise ran a leg of the 4x200 team and she brings a leadership role to the 400 meter group," LoPresti said. "She anchored the 4x400 that came from behind and defeated Tosa East on Saturday."

The veteran Colleen Seefeldt and newcomer Alantra Wright were two names LoPresti talked about when it came to the hurdles.

"Led by Colleen, the hurdle crew will blend Colleen's wisdom with sure-to-impress newcomers like Alantra Wright," LoPresti said. "The hurdle crew will be one of the deepest crews we have had in years."

The crew will be led by first-year hurdle coach and former Waukesha South athlete Jen Lehman.

Andy Schmeling returns to coach a solid jumps team and Shannon Wilson and Co. are back.

"This year's jumps crew led by 'The Dude' (Schmeling) will be awesome to watch take off," LoPresti said.

The Trojans have several newcomers, including pole vault coach Ben Heupel.

Also back in the jumps are Wright, Marie Wanless, Andrea Hafemeister, Sara Lunde, Tessa Mallegni and a whole host of tough competitors, LoPresti said.

Which include Brigid Jensen.

"Opposing teams thought she graduated, but she is back," LoPresti said. "Brigid had a great winter of training and leads an experienced and hungry distance crew, which includes Haley Barta, Emily Goodwillie, Casey Grabow, Anna Roghan and Laura Carlson."

The throws group, led by Beth Garncarcz, will be tough, LoPresti said.

Included in that group is Latasha Harmon, Alexis Hardy, Hafemeister and Sarah Amoroso, among others.

Showing the Trojans' depth, Tosa West won the Wisconsin Lutheran Invitational Friday at UW-Parkside.

They took first, second and fourth in the shot put behind Hardy, Harmon and Amoroso and the 4x200 relay of Mallegni, Sarah McOlash, Brianna Horton and Mercy Ndon captured their event.

Barta won the 800-meter run and had a great sprint off the final turn to win it. She also took second in the mile run.

The Trojans also placed a few athletes in the girls pole vault - Danica Jefferson, McOlash and Marie Wanless - who all vaulted very well - and Mallegni had a personal best in the long jump (14-3½).

In the 55 high hurdles Horton was fourth and Charlene Ngandu took fifth, while Ndon took second in the 55 dash. Caitlyn Campbell was fourth in the 400.

The Trojans take part in the Milwaukee Lutheran Invitational at 9:30 a.m. Saturday and the Whitefish Bay Invitational at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.