Gehlen green for new season

Gehlen Catholic returns three of the girls' cross country team's top runners from last season, but will look to a group of new runners to excel in 2012.

The Lady Jays placed second in the War Eagle Conference meet in 2011 and qualified for the state meet.

"I believe that we can do that well again," said Gehlen head coach Teresa Taylor. "It will be good to see how they do in races, especially with the new runners."

State qualifier Mollie Wankum has since graduated, along with Kaitlin Roberts and Nicole Ryan.

Senior Alli Sitzmann placed 13th in the conference meet and was recently awarded for training the most miles on the team during the summer.

Juniors Leah Ellensohn and Alexis Madsen return as two of the team's top six runners a year ago. The pair placed 12th and 14th in the WEC meet.

Sitzmann, Ellensohn and Madsen each earned all-conference honors for their performances in the conference meet.

Less experienced runners will be a major factor in Gehlen's success this season. Sophomore Maggie DeRocher and junior Hannah Sitzmann will look to earn points for the Lady Jays.

Senior Ashley Kellen, sophomore Rachel Tentinger and sophomore Ashley Weber return this season. Senior Christine Cho, sophomore Rachel Kellen and freshman Sarah Henrich will also run for the Lady Jays.

The Gehlen girls' cross country team is still a bit of a mystery without any time trials or races competed in so far, but the Lady Jays will look to their most experienced runners to lead them through the season.

"I have high hopes," Taylor said. "I really think that the leaders that are back from previous years really know what it takes to get to state. The new runners are very hard workers."

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