The Valley Central Vikings had five athletes participate at last year’s New York State Public High School Athletic Association.

Some of them will be back, others will not, but both the boys’ and girls’ teams will look to send runners back to this year’s state meet.

Bianca Staples led the Viking girls with a fourth-place finish in the high jump at the state meet. She has graduated, but the Vikings will return Ava Carsley, who went to last year’s state meet in two events: the 1,000- and 1,500-meter runs.

In addition to Ava Carsley, the Vikings also will return her sister Sophie Carsley, Riley Conan, Catherine Primavera, Sydney Remenar and Isabella Wade. They will mix with several newcomers, including Jacqueline Caromona, Madison Carpenter, Grace Chiarot, Sarah Del Pilar, Isabella Doro, Isabella Lombardi, Keily Maldonado, Zialyse Mosley, Lorena Rivera and Gianna Wildrick.

Valley Central girls’ coach Allison Borriello said the team’s goal is to have several athletes place at the Section 9 championship meet with the hope of qualifying for the state indoor track meet.

The boys are also looking to send three or four athletes to the state meet, along with at least one relay team.

Despite losing sprinter Elijah Bellinger, the Vikings return Azaziah Marshall, Jude Remenar, Daniel Latimer and distance runner Jacob Sahlstrom. They will be joined by Kyle Grimaldi, Derek Vincent and Caleb Sahlstrom.

“We have several key returners for our sprint group that we are excited to watch,” Valley Central boys’ coach Patrick Kemp said. “We are excited to watch our top distance runner make it to states and looking to continue his success. We also are excited to watch our young field-event athletes.”

The Wallkill Panthers have lost their top middle-distance runner, Luke Diemoz, who attended the state championship meet as part of the intersectional relay team. The girls’ team has lost hurdler Ava Roper.

The Panthers, however, have returned sprinter Rey Robison, middle distance runner Gifford Austin, distance runners Jake Craypo, Josh Craypo and Mario Verutto, Aaliyah Gaston on the hurdles, middle distance runners Maria Morales, and jumpers Giada Post, Mayah Simon and Elena Sindt.

The Panthers have strong numbers this year, 29-year coach Leo Sladewski said, and they’ve moved up into Division 2, which will put the Panthers up against some bigger schools.

Indoor meets also will return to the Gillis Field House at West Point, where the Section held its meets prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Panther also will have some meets at The Armory in New York City.

“In terms of Section 9, not much is different,” Sladewski said. “Our goal is always to qualify athletes for the state championship in March.”

Anthony DiMarco is entering into his second year as head coach of the Pine Bush boys’ team, and the Bushmen are entering the season looking to improve each athlete on a daily and weekly basis.

The Bushmen were second in last year’s division, but have lost Eric Anderson, David Ramirez, Steve Gihr and Chris Gentile. The Bushmen will return Alex Kozlowski, Jared Urena, Jack Mooney, Dan Gray, Ethan Heit, Elijah Cruz, Aidan Steele, Colby Zupetz, Logan Ceiley, Mat Kadanthod, Jacob Crawley, Xavier Bacchus and Kyle Zelonis.

Jason Jervis, Douglas McDonald and Lavon James will join the team this year.

The Bushmen started a transition last year when DiMarco took over for longtime coach Al Schmidt. The transition will continue this year with new coaches stepping into new leadership positions.

“However, we feel very excited and prepared and are ready to compete,” DiMarco said. “We feel like we have a lot of potential, and we hope that we’re able to capitalize on that potential as we continue to watch our program improve and grow.”

If the Pine Bush boys are in the middle of a transition, the girls’ team is even more so, as Robin Renahan enters takes over for longtime girls’ coach Gerald Risco.

The Bushmen will return Jada Falu, Ella Galloway, Madison Williams, Alina Zanetti and Elizabeth Elskoe. Shaylen Goslar joins the team, after having previously run for Chapel Field, while Jaslenne Ingenito and Elysia Jackson, Robeanna Fontana and Nyla Blake also are new to the team.

Renahan said the team’s goal is to build strength and compete more strategically.

“I am so impressed with the level of talent and dedication we have on this team,” Renahan said. “Coach (Samantha) Schwartz and I feel honored to work with such a strong program. We’re excited to see what our athletes will accomplish this season.”