While the Andover Track Team’s first meet of the spring season was just a scrimmage against Andover High School, it was a productive way to start their season in a low-pressure atmosphere. “I definitely see more benefits than disadvantages to running the first meet as a scrimmage,” said Captain Annie McDonough ’09. Andover High School is not in the same league as PA, so the meet did not count towards the team’s official record. This opened many opportunities for runners to try new events and take risks they might not have made if it were a league meet. “We can run people up in events, for example 100 meter and 200 meter people running the 400, and focus it more as a competitive speed workout,” said Captain Chase Potter ’09. “The only real difficulty comes in the fact that it is so early that we haven’t had much time to do any training.” “Despite the rain and wind, there were some really great performances.” said McDonough. Berol Dewdney ’09 won the 800 meter race, and Catherine Coppinger ’09 beat out her competitor in a close race right to the finish line. Malcom Mazon-Rodriguez ’11 also began his season with a bang, long jumping 22-feet 3-inches, a full foot farther than last year’s winner at the interscholastic championship competitions. Cayla Hatton ’12, who had a tremendously successful winter track season, ran the 3000 meter race and won with a time of 10 minutes 34 seconds. Newcomers also had strong starts to their running careers at Andover. Shannon Adams ’12 stood out in the 400 meter run, placing fourth in a time of 65 seconds. These times are all the more impressive considering the heavy rain and wind during the meet. “On the first straightaway the wind was really difficult, since it was right in your face, and it felt like you weren’t moving,” said Adams. “But once you got past that the wind was at your back and pushed you to the finish line,” she continued. “The weather played a huge factor in the times that we saw,” said Potter. “The wind was fierce coming down the back stretch.” Overcoming the weather and dusting off the cobwebs from last year, both captains and coaches were satisfied with Andover’s unofficial meet this season.
