by Marissa Harris ‘22

Distance runner junior Emily Zanni races to the finish line of her event. Photo by Avery Prudenti ’22

With one-third of the team being new track athletes, the outdoor season will be largely defined by potential and growth for having a successful season. The current seniors have not had a normal season since their freshmen year and as a result, this season will see a variety of personal bests. The time trials and inter-team scrimmage also spotlighted a number of new athletes who have the potential to be some of the top runners, jumpers, and throwers. The team has more than 10 meets scheduled this season, which gives the athletes a lot of opportunities to showcase their talent.

Senior KJ Edwards Fender, sophomore Emma Mascari, and junior Dylan Landis are three of 36 new track athletes who have held their own during the first few weeks of practices as sprinters. Returning sprinters include sophomores Leo Cantor II, Dylan Simmons, and Taylor Flickinger. In the field events, the team has many competitive returning athletes, such as senior Eli Rossini in the shot-put, and senior Katie Kaneko and junior Jack Link in the jumping events. On the distance side, juniors Emily Zanni and JJ Singleton, along with sophomore Sean Gravell, will secure team points while challenging some of the toughest runners in the state. Within the team, there are some injuries that will affect the early meets but will hopefully be healed in a few weeks.

Head Coach Dan Reeks’ overall goal is to help the student athletes achieve positive results at the meets. With the large number of new athletes, he wants to help them grow both as people and as athletes.

“Our job is to provide the structure to improve and enjoy the challenges of the sport. We would like to qualify at least two relays and four or more individuals for the state meet,” said Reeks. He is looking forward to developing a cohesive team and is excited for the invitational meets, which did not occur last spring. Reeks is assisted by distance coach Richard Melnick, sprinter coach Rebekkah Byerly, and throwing coach Matt Holonich.

The team competed in their first dual meet on March 24 away at Paint Branch. Although the team had to contend with some bad weather, multiple runners were able to get good times.

The overall scores for boys and girls did not end up how the team wanted, but the new runners definitely learned a lot and experienced what a track meet is really like. Zanni got 5:55 in the 1600, and the girls’ 4X800 came out on top.

On the boys side, Rossini won the shot put, and the 4X100 came in first. With more time and focus, the team has the potential to place well at a number of meets to come.