Coming off of last season’s impressive second place finish at Interschols, things are only looking better for Girls Track. The team lost a significant number of Senior scorers, but a new group of girls are stepping up to make for a successful season. This first week the coaches are running a decathalon to see what they have for new talent and what the new girls will be doing this season. The decathalon consists of ten running and field events, and the coaches are impressed by what they have seen so far. Abby King ’07, Ali Holliday ’06, Becca Howe ’06,and Sarah Dowd ’06, the fantastic four of long distance events, are back and healthy again this year. They are looking forward to improving their times from last season but have to be careful to avoid early season injuries. New distance runners joining the team are PG Hannah Comeau ‘06 and solid cross-country runners Brianna Jordan ’09 and Sarah Cohan ’08. Jordan is from Plymouth, Mass. and competed on the Varsity Track team as a seventh and eighth grader at her middle school, Sacred Heart in Kingston, Mass. and commonly placed first in the mile against girls more than four years older than her. Everyone is excited to see this freshman phenom compete. Ali Holliday ’06 was especially peppy when asked about how the long distance girls are looking. “The first two days of training were challenging, but everyone embraced the challenge! Everyone is keeping up, and the new runners look very strong. Best of all, everyone is staying positive, enjoying the weather, and having fun!” Returning sprinters include Captain Marty Schnure ‘06, Rosie Dupont ’06, Jeanette Francis ’06, Ola Canty ’07, Mgbechi Erondu ’06, Colleen Thurman ’07, Katharine Matsumoto ’07, and Nico Lansen ’07. Big things are expected from new sprinters Simone Hill ’08 and Jenna Castelot ’08. Erondu, Captain Schnure and Ola Canty ’07 lead the team in the hurdling events. The team graduated its leading sprinter last season, but everyone is working hard to get into top shape for the first meet. This season, Uppers will be controlling the jumping pits with lead jumper Colleen Thurman ’07 and Maura Mulroy ’07. Coach Patrick Farrell has been working with the girls to improve their form and speed at practices this week. And of course, the champion of throwing events, Aba Temeng ’06, is back and ready to dominate. Akosua Oforiwaa-Ayim ’07 and Carly Williams ’06 will be throwing the javelin this spring to score some points for the girls. Jeanette Francis ’06 and Kate Therkelsen ’06 lead the pole vaulting. For high jump, Atima Lui ’08 is ready to fly, along with newcomer Cecily Pulver ’07. The season kicks off in a home tri-meet against Andover High/Wilbraham Saturday, April 8 at 2:00pm. Andover High always has a great team and competing against the close neighbor always has an element of friendly rivalry.
