PENDLETON — When it pertains to title ambition, the Pendleton Heights girls track and field team hasn’t lost a step.

Already winning the Madison County team title this season, the program’s second in three years, while adding a competitive runner-up finish at the Hoosier Heritage Conference meet, the Arabians have made several strides.

After Tuesday night’s Pendleton Heights Sectional, however, Arabians’ coach Ron Hinton wouldn’t mind seeing those steady paces turn into another giant leap similar to the one taken May 2007.

Of course, PH will need time to mend some minor bumps and bruises before that happens.

Hampered but not slowed by routine shin splints and the traditional hamstring tweaks, the Arabians aren’t ready to ease up as they aim their sights at a second straight sectional title.

“We’re pretty strong, but right now we’re pretty beat up,” remarked Hinton whose program has netted a Madison County title and placed second at the Hoosier Heritage Conference Meet this week heading into the postseason.

“We have a lot of injuries and illness going around. It’s kind of like the walking wounded. Is it 100 percent? Not really. We’re just hoping we’re healthy by (sectional),” Hinton added. “We’re still doing well. We have a lot of girls stepping up. And it’s kind of nice because these girls are getting opportunities they otherwise wouldn’t have.”

Key atop that list among others is freshman Mollie Craig, who has filled in at the 300-meter hurdles while senior Katie Kritzer has battled a hamstring injury.

However, once the postseason arrives, the Arabians believe depth and a long-overdue clean bill of health will only further strengthen their championship focus.

“Highland and Mount Vernon are always strong. And Anderson always starts slow, but for some reason they almost always come from nowhere, so you have to look out for that. Plus, Frankton is also very strong this year,” Hinton said. “For sectional, it’s who is taking points from whom.”

For the Arabians, Kritzer, the county’s 100-meter hurdle champion for seven consecutive years, dating back to middle school, could generate serious numbers.

The senior placed first in the 100-meter hurdles and was second in the 300-meter hurdles at sectional a year ago.

“She’s been a warrior. She keeps going,” Hinton noted. “She’s had a hamstring injury since coming over from cheerleading. But it doesn’t matter to her. She said she’s tired of being injured and is going to fight through it.”

Sophomore Ellie McCardwell, a first-place finisher at sectional in the pole vault last season, has began to return to form after battling back problems this season. Shattering the HHC meet record in the pole vault, clearing 12-feet, McCardwell only adds another substantial contributor to an impressive 24-8 squad.

Beyond being a principal player in the pits, she also serves on the first leg for the squad’s 400-meter relay team, which was second at county this year and third in the 2007 sectional.