BUTLER TWP — Sibling squabbles earned Butler junior Emily Horstman the suggestion she should join the track team.

Her older brother, Ryan, noticed she was fast and convinced her to join the team in eighth grade.

Of all the people that saw the now Butler junior run up to that point, Ryan came by his evaluation honestly.

“From chasing after me,” Emily Horstman said about how Ryan picked up on her speed. “When we'd fight, I'd run.”

When Horstman won a few middle school meets, she knew she found her sport.

Horstman is one of many Butler County track athletes seeking a spot at the state meet at the end of the season.

Becoming a contender for the state bid started when she found the right events.

In middle school, Horstman ran the hurdles, but didn't feel comfortable with the event.

During her freshman season, Horstman was thrown into the 400-run for the first time and finished in 65 seconds.

Butler track coach John Williams thought it was a good spot for her.

Williams also has her in the 200-dash and 400 relay.

“I think I could convince her to run an 800,” Williams said. “Whatever you ask her to do, she's going to do. She's very aware. She saw the kids in front of her we had good leaders in the past and she's fitting into that mold.”

During the indoor season, Horstman placed fourth at the TSTCA Championships at Edinboro University in the 200 dash with a time of 26.93 seconds.

The 200 is the event where she's come closest to state qualifying times.

To keep improving, Horstman will need to work through a calf injury in her left leg.

She suffered a cramp during a three-lap cool down in practice and has struggled with it.

“It's frustrating,” Horstman said. “I usually want to practice to get better, but I can't do what I want to do. I have to lay back.”

Williams believes the indoor track will help Horstman as she works back toward the sprints.

“Coming into our six-week meet season, her training base is there,” Williams said. “She's going to have her endurance. She has to have her speed stuff.”

Here's a look at what the Butler County track teams are returning this season:

Coach: Dave Sherman, 17th season.Last year's record: N/A.Returning state qualifiers: None.Impact athletes: Emily Brenneman, Sr., sprints; Sam Brison, Sr., middle distance; Michaela Callendar, Sr. sprints; Morgan Cratty, Jr., sprints/jumps; Melanie Lewis, Sr, jumps/sprints; Erin Logue, Sr., throws/distance; Sadie Longo, Sr., throws/hurdles; Shannon Quayle, Jr., distance.Sherman says: “I just want them to compete and work hard in practice. We have a good group of freshman, but I don't know where they are going to be yet. We're hoping to find a home for them and get kids to districts.”

Coach: John Williams, second season.Last year's record: 4-2.Returning state qualifiers: Julia Baxter, Sr., high jump; Kalynn Callihan, Sr., shot put.Impact athletes: Shelby Campbell, Sr., throws; Alyssa DiPippa, Sr., distance/jumps; Ronni Guiney, Sr., hurdles/jumps; Lauren Skidmore, Sr., javelin; Kelsee Callihan, Jr., middle distance; Emily Horstman, Jr., sprints/relays; Kelly Kabay, Jr., middle distance; Paige Lambermont, Jr., javelin/distance; Jillian Tilko, Jr, jumps; Claire Weiland, Jr., pole vault; Michaela Brydon, Soph., distance; Julianna DiPippa, Soph., jumps; Odile Enslen, Soph., hurdles/middle distance; Nicole Fry, Soph., jumps/sprints; Taylor Jackson, Soph., distance/shot put; Savannah Miller, Soph., sprints.Williams says: “We want to be a playoff team. We want to be in the top two. The challenge is we've been out of the playoffs three straight years. North Allegheny, Seneca Valley and Shaler have all been tough the past few years. We expect we're going to find a way into the top two.”

Coach: John Gaillot, first season.Last year's record: 7-0, section champions.Returning state qualifiers: Zoe Pawlak, Jr., javelin.Impact athletes: Macy Smolic, Sr., javelin/long jump; Alyssa Furlong, Sr., javelin; Grace Ward, Sr., hurdles.Gaillot says: ““We have the same expectations for this year that we have every year, to win the section. We want everyone to do the best they can and put the work in.”

Coach: Ben English, 1st season.Last year's record: N/A.Returning state qualifiers: None.Impact athletes: Catie Jaskowak, Jr., distance; Olivia Lowe, Jr., 800; Michael Wimer, Sr., 400; Alecia Petrikis, Jr, sprints; Lauren Steele, Jr., 400; Camryn Skibinski, Fr., sprints.English says: “My expectation is to have a number of district qualifiers by the end of the year.”

Coach: Roger King, sixth season.Last year's record: 8-0, KSAC champions.Returning state qualifiers: Brittany Coyle, Sr., 400 relay; Annie Hegedus, Sr., 400 relay.Impact athletes: Cheyenne Troutman, Sr., high jump; LeErin Jones, Sr., middle distance; LeAnn Gibson, Jr., 1,600 relay; Abby Wolfe, Jr., hurdles; Clara Stoughton, Sr., throws.King says: “We want to win the KSAC and work on bettering the kids.”

Coach: Judy Geist, fifth season.Last year's record: 9-3, 6-0.Returning state qualifiers: none.Impact athletes: Katie Bozzo, Sr., hurdles; Ashlyn Carlsson, Sr., middle-distance; Nicole Cress, Sr., shot put; Rachel Kroneburg, Sr., throws; Mackenzie Rodgers, Sr. throws; Lauren Karenbauer, Jr., middle-distance; Mandi Moxie, Jr., distance; Emily Robb, Jr., hurdle.Geist says: “We only lost three seniors from last year and have 13 this year we can rely on to defend our section title.”

Coach: Larry Young, third season.Last year's record: 6-1, WPIAL playoff qualifier.Returning state qualifiers: None.Impact athletes: Sabrina Edwards, Sr., hurdles; Sydney Cole, Sr., distance; Shannon McChesney, Sr., distance; Ali Goetz, Sr., throws; Teah Amato, Jr., hurdles; Natalie Petrini, Soph., distance; Annabel Hnath, Soph., middle-distance; Brittany Bean, soph., sprints; Sammy Papik, soph., hurdles/jumps; Rachel Honochorek, soph., sprints/jumps; Emma Gentile, Sr., distance; Tori Kopchak, soph., middle-distance; Kinsley Bitzer, Fr., middle-distance; Liz Smialek, Jr., distance; Justina Nichols, Sr., jump.Young says: “We didn't lose much in terms of numbers, but we lost a few key performers who scored a bunch of points for us. We have a young team, but I think we could be as strong or stronger than last year's team.”

Coach: Sue Scialabba, 16th season.Last year's record: 7-2.Returning state qualifiers: Maura Kimmel, Sr., shot put.Impact athletes: Stephanie McCall, Sr., sprints/jumps/javelin; Megan Sosigian, Sr., hurdles/javelin; Brittany Lindsay, Jr., shot put/discus; Allison DeMatteis, Sr., middle distance; Sam Hall, Soph., hurdles; Gabby Stewart, Soph., sprints; Cloey Wallace, Jr., distance; Mercedes Wallace Soph., distance.Scialabba says: “Maura Kimmel had an excellent indoor season qualifying for both states and nationals in the shot put. We have some injuries that are hurting us. We are hoping to get everyone healthy so we can see what we can do as a team.”

Coach: Ray Peaco, sixth season.Last year's record: 4-3.Returning state qualifiers: Rachel Hensler, sophomore, distance; Julia Koose, sophomore, distance; Isabelle Biase, sophomore, distance.Impact athletes: Seniors —Katy Stebbins (hurdles, triple jump). Sophomores — Erin Danik (throws), Michael Lamont (sprints), Dani Matz (sprints), Meghan Mineweaser (sprints).Peaco says: “We have several girls that can really emerge. Our distance runners were successful at the state cross country meet.”

Coach: Tom Meling, second season.Last year's record: 3-3.Returning state qualifiers: Molly Joyce, Sr., hurdles; Megan Stevenson, Sr., 100.Impact athletes: Brady Dalton, Soph., 4x100/hurdles/jumps; Casey Brandenburg, 4x100.Meling says: “We actually have some good young distance runners coming in. That's where we struggled to score points in dual meets last year, in the distance events. I'm hoping we can go 5-1 and challenge Hickory.”Information from Union was unavailable.