NTL TRACK & FIELD: CANTON LOOKS TO REBUILD THE PROGRAM IN 2021 (2021-04-05)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
When Canton takes to the track, and field, they will look radically different than they did two years ago. Many of their top athletes have graduated with much of the roster this year lacking in experience.

“We’re trying to kind of focus on making kids better athletes,” said coach Casey Aylesworth. “Then, when that happens, if they score in events that’s awesome.”

For a lot of his kids track and field is a secondary sport, they use it to help improve their performance in other sports.

“We pull kids out who may not be a true track runner, they play a different sport, and try and get them in shape,” explained Aylesworth. “We see what they can do on the track.”

The lack of experience, combined with low numbers, means Aylesworth is keeping his expectations in check.

“Our goal is to make it a positive experience for the kids, keep those numbers, and build from there,” said Aylesworth. 

However, with no invitationals until the NTL Championships, the league’s teams will just be doing dual meets.

“We don’t know how it’ll play out,” said Aylesworth. “But everything is going to be weird, because there might not be relays being run at these meets. It might just not happen with numbers.”

Missing a year in any sport is tough, but is especially difficult in track and field due to the nature of the competition. 

“Runners is hard, especially if they’re not cross-country runners, because they’re not building,” said Aylesworth. “(And) in the field events. Derek (Atherton-Ely) was 150 (feet) in the javelin as a sophomore, but now he’s a senior, and he hasn’t thrown in two years.”

Atherton-Ely is one of his key athletes this season, along with Michael Skipper and Isaiah Niemczyk in the mid-distance and Conner Foust in the sprints.

“He’s a newbie who’s going to be pretty solid,” said Aylesworth.

They do have one Penn State bound athlete in their ranks.

“Ben Knapp actually came out to run this year to try and get into shape,” explained Aylesworth. “We’ll see how he does.”

On the girls’ side Aylesworth mentioned Camille McRoberts in the distance events and Reagan Kelley in the throws.

“It’s kind of early to tell,” said Aylesworth. “Then losing a season is even harder to tell.”

In the past Canton has had state qualifiers and medalists, but this year it’s all about getting things off the ground.

“We’re going to have to work from square one, build up from there,” he said. “Some of these kids haven’t done anything in two years now. I don’t think I’ll have too many surprises, but maybe we will.”