Eighteen returning letter winners will form the nucleus of the 2019 Oak Harbor High School girls track team.

Back this season are seniors Cami Bristow, Chloe Kubisiak, Brenna Rothman, Alex Smith, Sarah Ulam and Jessica Vester; juniors Maria Dailey, Jasmine Ford, Issis Foster-Suyat, Morgan Lamar, Jaelyn O’Hara, Natalie Plush, Peyton Rhyne, Morgan Roundy and Leielle Salinger; and sophomores Morgan Pease, Courtney VanGiesen and Chloe Wallace.

Dailey earned second-team, all-league honors last spring as a member of the 4×100 relay team, and VanGiesen (400, 4×400 relay), Bristow (javelin), Salinger (4×200) and Pease (4×400) were honorable mention.

“The girls are really focusing on finishing in the top half of the league,” coach Eric Peterson said.

He added that the seniors should lead the way.

“Our strengths include the leadership we have in each of the events for the younger kids,” he said. “Cami, Chloe and Sarah fill in for the throws, Alex for the distance kids and Jessica and Brenna for the sprints.

“Our weakness will be lack of depth. It’s tough to compete with the larger schools when we don’t have five to seven girls in each event.”

On the positive side, a strong freshman class should contribute this season, according to Peterson.

It will be a successful season, Peterson said, if the “girls have fun, which leads to improved performances.”

Coupeville and South Whidbey will join Oak Harbor for the Island Jamboree at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 14, at Wildcat Memorial Stadium.

Oak Harbor will host Marysville-Pilchuck and Archbishop Murphy at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 21.