The Butler girls track team found itself in a usual spot last spring — at the WPIALClass AAA championships.

The Tornado, however, came up a bit short by finishing in third place. Again.

"The past three years we've placed third at the WPIAL championships," said Butler coach Rod Harris.

"Last year we were third behind North Allegheny and Norwin, and I think if everyone stays healthy, we can give those teams a run for their money again,"Harris added.

The squad lost several standouts to graduation: Amy Achesinski, Tess Crispin, Hannah Rekich, Lea Renwick and Jess Vernon. Ashley Lotz, a multiple WPIAL medalist, returned to Riverside for her senior season.

Still, Harris is optimistic, thanks to an influx of underclassmen.

The Tornado have 18 seniors and 16 juniors, but 34 sophomores and 54 freshmen, several of whom will contribute right away.

"We have a really young squad, so we'll be looking at our upperclassmen for leadership,"Harris noted.

After 27 years as the Seneca Valley girls coach and 31 as the boys coach, Wayne Roccia won't be at the helm of the Raiders program. Longtime assistant Ray Peaco assumes the mantle.

Mars, which reached the WPIALplayoffs last season, will try to do so again under first-year coach Deb Knox.

Karns City, the Keystone ShortwayAthletic Conference champions, lost standout Xandria White, as well as Stephanie Isaaco, Tausha Bowser and Sarah Hepler, but will try to find their way atop the KSAC standings.

Here's a look at the area girls track teams:

Butler

Coach: Rod Harris, fifth year

Last season: 10-3 overall, third at WPIAL finals

Top returners: Seniors Amanda Malecky (middle distance), Erica Miller (hurdles, middle distance), Skye Sankey (pole vault), Krista Scott (jumps), Katherine Sylvia (throws); juniors Rachel Doutt (throws), Katie Wahl (sprints), Becky Smith (throws); sophomores Olivia Bresnahan (high jump), Erin Bell (high jump), Casie Cygan (sprints, jumps, hurdles), Maria Gracik (throws), Becky Nowacki (jumps, hurdles), Emily Petrak (middle distance), Adair Robinson (sprints), Tara Lowe (sprints)

Strengths: Jumps, middle distance, numbers

Weaknesses: Javelin, hurdles, inexperienced depth

Coach's comment: "We have a lot of young girls, but they could be able to step in right away. We'll keep our fingers crossed."Seneca Valley

Coach: Ray Peaco, first year

Last season: 7-3 overall

Top returners: Seniors Jen Boyd (jumps, 400), Angelika Delerme (jumps), Logan Gamelier (sprints), Emily Wolfarth (distance); juniors Joelle Scarnati (distance), Evanne Giuliano (middle distance), Jenny Jergel (sprints); Stacy Harkins (throws), Megan Powell (distance); sophomores Kate Kelly (middle distance); Erin Lopresti (middle distance, distance, triple jump), Elexa Baron (hurdles), Mandy Cerminara (hurdles), Grace Emmerling

Strengths: Jumps, middle distance, distance

Weaknesses: Throws, experienced depth

Coach's comment: "The only thing that concerns me is we do have some outstanding athletes, but we need support around them. We've got a lot of new people, a lot of new faces and no scrimmages yet. We haven't got a feel for who we are yet. There's no identity. I tell the kids we need a meet to see where we are. We definitely have some outstanding young ladies."Knoch

Coach: Tom Hoffmann, fifth year

Last season: N/A

Top returners: Seniors Carol Cress (throws), Jeannie Sullivan (hurdles); juniors Sarah Robb (jumps), Alyssa Kunkel (distance); sophomores Gina Robb (hurdles, jumps), Allyson Cress (throws)

Strengths: Throws, distance, jumps, hurdles

Weaknesses: Sprints, depth

Coach's comment: "We'll be competitive in every meet and look to take some girls to the WPIAL finals and states. With some of our losses, I thought we'd be stronger, but we're young again. We have 30 girls. A lot of those girls are good, quality athletes, and then we have a lot of young athletes."Mars

Coach: Deb Knox, first year

Last season: 8-1 in regular season, reached WPIALteam playoffs

Top returners: Seniors Chloe Pierre (distance), Kayla Keil (throws), Brittany Jones (sprints), Ashley beck (hurdles), Kaitlyn Angeletti (sprints); juniors Brynn Workman (middle distance); sophomores Samantha Brandon (distance), Courtney Cooper (sprints), Sarah Williams (sprints)

Strengths: Sprints, distance

Weaknesses: Hurdles, throws

Coach's comment: "We have 46 girls and we're predominantly freshmen and sophomores. I see them being very successful, and I think we'll have a record similar to last year."Freeport

Coach: Bill Dillen, 15th year

Last season: 7-3 overall

Top returners: Seniors Jordan Dunn (middle distance), Christine Marty (distance), Andrea McQueen (jumps), Cassandra Dumont (jumps), Rachel Mattioli (sprints); Merrisa Malcolm (pole vault, javelin); Megan Affrica (jumps)

Strengths: Jumps, middle distance, distance

Weaknesses: Throws, sprints, hurdles

Coach's comment: "The kids have been working very hard. We're a young team, so we'll see where we're at when we get out there."Slippery Rock

Coach: Mike Kish, 29th year

Last season: 5-0 overall

Top returners: Seniors Calley Bridges (distance), Melanie Prelec (throws, sprints), Shanea Raabe (throws); juniors Samantha Amyx (jumps, hurdles), Michelle Grossman (hurdles, jumps, sprints), Candace Hogue (hurdles, sprints), Elissa McCune (sprints, hurdles), Brittney Richter (jumps, distance), Angie Shaffer (jumps, hurdles, utility), Chelsea Stanley (jumps, hurdles); sophomores Hannah Barnhart (hurdles, sprints)

Strengths: Jumps, hurdles, sprints

Weaknesses: Experienced depth at distance, throws

Coach's comment: "We should be very strong. (Assistant coach) Tom Meling does a great job. He had a ton of ladies do hurdles. Last year, we had five or six girls in districts. Sometimes it's too many girls who qualified."Grove City

Coach: Mickey Hardenburg, first year

Last season: 5-5 overall

Top returners: Seniors Kristy Woods (throws; Class AA double state medalist, including first in discus); juniors Megan DeGraaf (pole vault), Laurel Montgomery (pole vault, hurdles), Becky Simon (jumps); sophomore Hanna Casanova (middle distance)

Strengths: Throws, sprints, distance

Weaknesses: Hurdles, experienced depth

Coach's comment: "It's hard to tell right now how we'll do. We're really, really young. We're just shaking the tree to see how we'll do. We have a lot of freshman coming in. We'll see how they'll do."Karns City

Coach: Tom Wagner, second year

Last season: 9-0, KSACchampions

Top returners: Seniors Audra Buechele (hurdles), Michelle Sweeney (pole vault), Alyssa Callender (shot put), Melissa Sypulski (throws), Katie Weibel (javelin), Allyson Kepple (middle distance); juniors Alaina Burns (throws), Amber Saunders (jumps), Samantha Bly (jumps), Hannah Beck (middle distance), Ashley Campbell (middle distance); sophomores Stephanie Stoughton (discus), Corrine Conto (jumps), Nicole Harmon (distance), Kayce Grimm (distance), Kara Sypulski (sprints), Shenoa Hendell (middle distance)

Strengths: Numbers, strong performers n most events

Weaknesses: Inexperienced depth

Coach's comment: "I'm very comfortable with our numbers and I like the younger kids. The sophomores and freshmen have to step up and fill roles as needed. Some look pretty good. ... I think, as a staff, it's not the depth, but knowing where to put everyone. I'm optimistic. Expectations are always high here."Moniteau

Coach: Sue Scialabba, sixth year

Last season: 7-2, third in the KSAC

Top returners: Seniors Michele Gebhart (distance), Ellie Hillard (shot put, discus), Kristy Ice (distance), Gretchen McCormick (pole vault, middle distance, hurdles); sophomores Mimi Haney (middle distance), Kathleen Harding (hurdles, middle distance), Jenna McCorry (sprints, high jump, javelin)

Strengths: Distance, jumps, hurdles, throws

Weaknesses: Depth — only 17 girls on roster

Coach's comment: "I am very pleased with the work ethic of this team. We are small in numbers, but big in heart. I hope that will carry over into the season. We have only seven returning letterwinners and three are sophomores. We will be expecting big things from them. Our seniors have a combined record of 25-2 over the past three seasons and will be very important to our success this year."Union

Coach: Al Pryor, first year

Last season: 4-5 in the KSAC

Top returners: Seniors Torri Smith (javelin, pole vault), Sarah Myers (distance); juniors Jenna Holden (jumps, sprints), Courtney Frederick (discus, shot put), Kirstie Priester (sprints), Abby Hawk (hurdles); sophomore Lepha Logue (1,600, jumps)

Strengths: Depth (46 participants, including 20 freshmen), jumps, sprints, middle distance

Weaknesses: Distance

Coach's comment: "We want to see improvement each week and try to qualify the girls for districts, especially the young kids. We want to see them improve."A-C Valley

Coach: Dave Sherman Jr.

Last season: 1-7 in the KSAC

Top returners: Seniors Jaime Anderson (sprints, jumps), Kate Best (sprints, jumps), Kristen Rose (sprints, jumps), Jessica Henry (throws); junior Shelbi Cervenec (shot put); sophomores Caroline Blauser (sprints, jumps), Erika Rothen (hurdles, 1,600 relay), Sam Kerlin (hurdles, mile relay)

Strengths: Sprints, sprint relay, jumps

Weaknesses: Middle distance, distance, depth

Coach's comment: "We've got some young kids and some kids in their first year out. I think they'll do well. We'll just try to be competitive and score in as many events as we can. Our big focus is to try and get as many kids to districts meet as we can. Our numbers (28 kids) are good."