The track and field season starts this week for Jackson County teams, and there’s a lot of talent spread out across the oval for each team.

For the Brownstown Central girls team, head coach Maria Conklin is excited for the season to get started.

“I’m excited for the upcoming track and field season for the Lady Braves,” she said. “We have been working hard so far this preseason, and we have several returners who have been great leaders in their events. I’m excited to see how far we progress throughout the season”

Some of the top returning athletes for the Braves include Jazz Yeadon in the 400, long jump and relays; Camryn Thompson in the 100 and 300 hurdles; and Paige McKain in the 1600 and 3200.

In the field events, Kaitlyn McCormick will be featured in the pole vault, and Addie Shelton, Zori Otting and Taylor Loudermilk will all be focusing on throws.

On the boys side, the Braves will be led by Derrick Koch.

Caleb Cummings in the sprints and Isiaah Engle in the hurdles both had solid seasons last year. Engle made it to regional in the 300 hurdles.

Dustyn Kocsis and Brayden Millick both had good throwing seasons last spring and had success in the postseason, as well.

In the distance events, freshmen Shane and Chance Ratliff both had stellar cross-country seasons in the fall and project to do well in track, as well.

Both the boys and girls teams for the Braves will open their season Tuesday night when they host Austin and Crothersville at 4:30 p.m.

The Seymour track and field team also will open its season on Tuesday when the Owls host Columbus East at Bulleit Stadium.

Led by head coach Spencer Sunbury, the girls side has a strong group of seniors in Emilee East, Hayley Harpe, Samantha Jacobi, Lillian Sunbury and McKenzie Wirtz.

Sophomore Vivienne Siefker was Seymour’s top cross-country runner in the fall and hopes to have a solid track season this spring. The Owls also return junior Brooke Trinkle, who qualified for state last year in the 1600. Hannah Dart had a good season for Seymour in throws last year, getting to regional in both the shot put and discus.

Like the girls, the boys are also defending sectional champions.

Randy Fife is the head coach, and the Owls are returning a strong cast of distance runners in Carter Morris, Michael Proffer, Jude Bane and Carter Murphy.

Collin Hankins, Bryson Darlage and Owen Kruse also all played important roles in sectional last season and competed in regional.

The meet against the Olympians is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. tomorrow.

For Crothersville, the Tigers are returning two regional qualifiers in Kaylyn Holman (1600 and 3200) and Kennadi Lakins (long jump and high jump).

Head coach Marc Bowman said, “All I can think is we have some potential on the team, just need to get them to step up and reach their potential. We could have a decent season.”

He also said he thinks senior Ella Plasse will be dropping her times in the mile and 2-mile.

On the boys side, Crothersville is very young with one sophomore and five freshmen.

The Tigers begin their season tonight at home against Trinity Lutheran and Hauser.

The Cougars only had four athletes come out for the track team last spring, but this year is much different.

Led by first-year head coach Keith Dyer, there is a total of 17 athletes on the boys and girls side for Trinity.

The meet time at Crothersville tonight is slated to start at 5:30 p.m.