Valley Forge Patriots build around youth, proven stars entering track and field season
Valley Forge High School enters the track and field season with a clear identity: a program leaning on experienced senior leadership while counting on a large wave of underclassmen to shape its future. The Patriots bring back several accomplished athletes on both the girls and boys sides, and the outlook is tied closely to a freshman group that arrives after significant success at Greenbrier. That blend of established production and young depth gives Valley Forge reason for optimism as the season begins.
The girls lineup is led by one of the area’s most accomplished athletes in Nevaeh Hall, a four-year senior coming off a standout 2025 season. Hall broke school records in the 100, 200 and long jump, marks that had stood since the 1980s. She qualified for state in all three events, earned All-Ohio honors with an eighth-place finish in the 200, placed second in the long jump, was named conference MVP and won conference titles in the 100, 200 and long jump. As she begins her final season, Hall gives the Patriots a proven point scorer across sprints and field events, and she is expected to push for even higher finishes this spring.
Valley Forge also returns senior Kara Barnett, who is looking to improve her standing in the discus, and sophomore Delaney Kercher, who already has an impressive postseason résumé. Kercher qualified for regionals in the high jump in 2025 and won a conference championship in the long jump, making her another versatile piece in the girls program. Underclassmen Jocelyn Marflak and Addison Struck are also among the athletes to watch as the Patriots look to expand their depth and continue building around a younger core.
On the boys side, the Patriots bring back senior Daymon Watts, who is aiming to improve his conference position in the 100 meters, and senior Austin Kutnyak, who will look to climb in both the shot put and discus. Valley Forge is also counting on first-year seniors Benny Landamo and Mykel Robinson to make an impact in the sprints and jumps. Returning underclassmen Nathan Olsen, Yair Ruiz and Matt Novak give the boys team additional event coverage and competition as the roster develops through the spring.
For Valley Forge, the season’s larger story may be how quickly that young talent matures around its veteran leaders. The Patriots believe their sizable group of competitive freshmen can help grow the program right away, and the combination of Hall’s state-level credentials, Kercher’s emergence and a steady senior class gives the team a solid foundation. If the underclassmen adjust quickly and key returners take another step, Valley Forge could be positioned for a season that is about both immediate results and long-term progress.
