Both of Upper Perkiomen's track and field teams expect to contend for a division championship in the Pioneer Athletic Conference this season. One of its male athletes has larger individual expectations.

            Grayson Riggins starts his season eying PIAA gold medals in two individual

Freshman Maya Pierce participates in the hight jump in  Tuesday's meet against Pottsgrove.

hurdles events. Winning a state title in the 110 meter and 300 meter races is possible, according to Coach Clayton Mowrer.

            "It's not out of the question, if everything breaks right for him," Mowrer said.

            On Tuesday, both teams swept visiting Pottsgrove in a Frontier Division meet. Scores were not available the following morning.

            Riggins has emerged as one of the nation's top runners, said the coach. The junior starts the season as the state's No. 2 ranked junior in both hurdle events.

           "Grayson looks great," Mowrer said of Riggins, who seeks his first career State medal. "He's got the talent and the right mindset. He's learned to run awesomely under a high level of pressure."

            Last spring, a groin injury forced Riggins to withdraw from the 110 hurdles event at States at Shippensburg University after finishing second at the District One championships. He contended in the 300 meter hurdle event at Districts before withdrawing due to a nagging injury. 

            Mowrer noted that Riggins' relatively good health should allow him to fully compete in both events this season. Mowrer identified the longer race as his premier event, citing the athlete's speed and continually improving technique.

            To preserve himself, Riggins likely won't run the hurdles in a meet for the Tribe until the Viking Invitational Meet at Perkiomen Valley High School on April 12, according to Mowrer. Instead, Riggins will compete in the 200 and 400 meter dashes.

            Several athletes hope to join Riggins on a deep post-season run. The coach identified Darius Reid, Morgan O'Hara and Sami Pedrick as the team's best options to qualify for states.

            "We're looking to take multiple kids to districts," Mowrer said. "[The coaches] are trying not to mess it up."

            Reid has set himself on a trajectory similar to Riggins. The sophomore should be a consistent four-event scorer this season. He might join Riggins in the 200 and 400 meter dashes after setting the school record in the longer sprint.

            "Darius just glides on the track," the coach said.

            Reid's best event remains the high jump. He nearly qualified for states in the event as a ninth grader, then set a personal best by clearing 6 feet, 4 inches at the Phantom Invitational earlier this month. Last summer, he finished second among ninth graders at the New Balance Nationals Outdoors, at Franklin Field, in Philadelphia.

            Reid is competing in a new event, the long jump. Mowrer described the athlete's speed and leaping ability as an ideal combination for it.

            "Darius can jump out of his shoes," the coach said.

            Asher Zonis will provide depth on the track and in the field. The junior is expected to compete in the 100 meter dash and possibly the 4x100 relay. He should deliver regular points in the long and triple jumps.

            Ben Northern, a senior, will participate in the high jump. Ben Anderson, a sophomore, should hold spots in the two hurdles races early in the season if the Indians decide to hold out Riggins.  "The boys are very deep," Mowrer said.

            Morgan O'Hara and Sami Pedrick will lead the Tribe girls in their bid for a division title. Both enter the season with aspirations of qualifying for the PIAA Championships.

            O'Hara, who missed out on Districts and States last season due to injury, started her junior season by breaking the school record in the javelin with a throw of 134 feet, 7 inches. She expected to set the new mark at the end of last season, according to Mowrer.

            "It's tough to break a record like that so early in the season," the coach said. "It was an early goal. She's been chasing it for a while."

            Mowrer said O'Hara utilized the adversity of missing Districts and States as fuel to improve. He said she has improved her physical strength.  "Morgan made sure the injury did not set her back," Mowrer said.

            Pedrick, a senior, just missed out at States last year in the pole vault. She finished tied for 10th at the District One Class 3A meet, two places short of a berth.

            She cleared 11 feet during the indoor season. Mowrer said Pedrick needs to clear 11 feet, 6 inches during the spring to reach the next level.

            "Sami's been knocking on that door for several years," the coach said of Pedrick who is also the team's top long jumper. "She's doing everything she can [to get to States]. We're hoping all of her hard work will pay off."

            A trio of ninth graders is learning the pole vault. Morgan Fleming, Ysabelle Consuelo and Lilian Krause are working with assistant coach Mike Flack.

            "I can't say enough about Mike and the rest of our coaching staff," Mowrer said. "He is fantastic."

            The coach identified other freshmen who could provide regular points in multiple events. Maya Pierce, a quality high jumper, should score in the 400 meter dash and in the 4x400 relay.

            Lila Martin, who posted a strong indoor season, will line up in the 200 and 400 meter dashes. Mowrer described their classmate Acacia Kabula as a thrower with a lot of potential. Sarah Rohl, who ran cross country, could provide depth in the distance races.