Pictured, in front, from left, are: Emre Morgan, 3,200-meter relay; Chase Fetzeck, 400-meter relay and 300-meter hurdles; Christopher Joblon, 1,600-meter relay; Colby Barr, 100 meters, 400 meters, 1,600-meter relay and 400-meter relay; Alex Marfink, 400-meter relay and 110-meter hurdles; and Isaac Hammerbeck, 400-meter relay and 300-meter hurdles. In the middle are: Emily Foster, high jump; Emma Roell, discus; Sarah Hoffman, 100-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles and 400-meter relay; Madison Snell, 100 meters, shot put and 400-meter relay; Kaitlyn Finch, 400-meter relay; Raelyn Wightman, 400-meter relay; Kayle Bell, 400-meter relay; and Madison Connolly, 400-meter relay. In back are: Alex Eaton, 3,200-meter relay; Aamond Bowman, triple jump and 400-meter relay; Austin Fiscus, 1,600-meter relay; Andrew Kyler, 3,200-meter relay; Chase Kyler, 3,200-meter relay; Trenton Mead, 1,600-meter relay; and Dylan Hardwick, 800 meters, 3,200-meter relay and 1,600-meter relay. Absent is Marc Lewis, 1,600-meter relay and 3,200-meter relay. Times Observer photo by Cody Elms

The Sheffield Wolverines are sending 22 athletes to Brookville High School today to compete in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association District 9 Track & Field Championships.

Leading the pack for the Wolverines is former District 9 champion and two-time state qualifier senior Emily Foster, who looks to rebound after an injury-hampered junior season in the high jump.

“I’m as healthy as can be,” said Foster. “I’d say 95, definitely not 100, but we’re gonna to make it look like I’m 100.”

“She was in her head a little bit earlier this year because, you know, you’re always scared to come back from injury, but she’s getting more confident,” said Sheffield head coach Jason Snell of Foster’s final season thus far.

Foster referenced her busy final week of the regular season as to why she can’t commit to being in perfect health heading into districts, noting that on Friday she was only clearing 4 feet, 11 inches, however, by this Monday’s practice she was back to normal.

“Monday, I cleared 5 feet, 3 inches, so right now in practice we’re just trying to break every single thing down little by little,” said Foster. “I want it to be a nice day. I want to compete well. The weather is obviously going to be a determining factor, but whatever gets thrown my way I’ll just have to deal with it.”

Foster is tied as the top seed in high jump with DuBois Central Catholic’s Hope Jacob. Snell feels they have put Foster in the best position to succeed and potentially break a school record.

“She stands a good chance at placing,” said Snell. “We pretty much cut her out of all her other events so she can focus primarily on the high jump and not worry about getting injured. She’s coming up on days off and putting in lots of work. She wants it as bad as anybody else, to get back there and one of her goals always was to medal at the state level. She’s an inch off the school record as well.”

While Foster is hoping to clear the crossbar, teammate Sarah Hoffman has her eyes on clearing the hurdles, as the junior will compete at districts for the second time. The junior Wolverine is currently seeded ninth (17.22) in the 100-meter hurdles and 13th (51.88) in the 300-meter hurdles. Hoffman also will be a participant on the 400-meter relay team with Raelyn Wightman, Kaitlyn Finch and Madison Snell.

“She runs with her competition, which is a great thing,” said Coach Snell. “She’s right there. She’s a competitor. She’s a quiet person, but as a competitor she talks with her effort. That school record obviously tells that story.”

Earlier in this season, Hoffman broke the 28-year-old 300-meter hurdles record previously held by Sheffield graduate Cari Sixt (52.03), running a 51.88. Hoffman acknowledged that her dancing background has certainly given her a flexibility advantage that some others may not have. That’s something Snell has noticed as well.

“She was a dancer before this, and that’s helped her very much with her balance and form.

Don’t be surprised if you see her on the podium on Friday.”

Madison Snell is seeded 10th (13.24) in the 100-meter dash and Emma Roell sits at eighth (96-0) for discus.

“She dealt with some injuries running this year, so she spent a lot more time focusing on just discus,” Coach Snell said of Roell. “We’re just hoping to get her consistent, get her to the finals, and there’s no reason she can’t make that podium in Brookville.”

For the boys, the 3200-meter relay team is looking to carry on their season-long progression and not only beat their personal records but also take home a medal. The team, made up of Marc Lewis, Alex Eaton, Chase Kyler and Dylan Hardwick, qualified for districts earlier in the season and ran their best time of 9:06 at the Warren County meet.

“Their goal has been to get in the eights,” said Snell. “Do I think they can get in the eights? Not think; I know they can. It all comes down to handoffs, everybody running their best race and not getting pushed in the beginning. They’ve wanted it.”

For Kyler, as a senior, he knows the road to victory in this event will not be easy for the experienced team.

“I’m anticipating it’s going to be competitive,” said Kyler. “There are no write-ins so it’s going to be a really competitive race. I’m just excited to be running in that environment and just being able to experience running at districts.”

The District 9 championships begin with field events at 1 p.m. followed by track events at 2 p.m. today.