INDIANAPOLIS
Roncalli’s co-MVP from a memorable 2017 girls track and field season could potentially excel in five different events this spring.
Not in the same meet, of course — not that sophomore Emily Sonderman isn’t willing to try.
“Emily is all up for running all the time,” Rebels coach Royce Antolin said. “But I actually end up trying to make sure that by the end of the year that she’s running her best. Everything is designed for her to peak at the end of the year.”
The delicate balance between utilizing an athlete’s skills too little or too much is one all track coaches go through each season.
Sonderman, a Greenwood resident, is expected to be one of the Rebels’ main producers of points after a freshman season in which she qualified for the state meet in the long jump and 4×100 relay.
This included teaming with the since-graduated trio of Paige Saylor, Josie Asher and Morgan Clarke to set new Roncalli records in the 4×100 relay (49.39 seconds) and 4×400 (4:05.49). Sonderman’s fifth-place 400 time at the Franklin regional (58.94) is second-fastest in program history.
“At regional I was pretty shocked when I PR’ed in the long jump, and that I got my 400 time down to a 58,” Sonderman said. “If anything, I thought I may make it in the 400 to state.”
The stage never got too large for Sonderman — a trait inherited from her mother, Ann.
As a freshman at Forest Park High School in southern Indiana, the former Ann Schwoeppe won state in the 100- and 200-meter dashes at the 1983 state meet. She then ran sprints at the University of Wisconsin, where she helped the Badgers claim two Big Ten team championships.
“I wasn’t really surprised,” Antolin said of Sonderman’s debut varsity season. “Once I saw her practice and got to know her a little bit, I was kind of expecting it, to be honest.”
Depending on the venue, Sonderman might have her workload slightly lessened late in the regular season. For example, she could focus on her two primary events (long jump, 400) with a teammate filling her role in the 200 or the 4×400 relay.
The Rebels close the regular season May 8 at the Marion County meet at North Central; the sectional is a week later.
“I want to make it to state in the 400 and long jump, and hopefully the 200, which may be a little difficult,” Sonderman said. “I’m hoping to break our school records in the 400 and 200.”
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THE FAST TRACK
A look at how Emily Sonderman fared in the 2017 postseason:
Shelbyville Sectional
Event;Place;Time/distance
400;2nd;1:00.13
4×100 relay;2nd;49.77
Long jump;3rd;16-7 1/4
Franklin Regional
Event;Place;Time/distance
400;5th;58.94
4×100;3rd;49.39
4×400;5th;4:05.49
Long jump;3rd;17-5 1/4
State meet
Event;Place;Time/distance
Long jump;16th;17-0 3/4
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