By Ethan Malzberg '19
Head Coaches: Mark Sepkowski and Tim Grant
Last season's highlights:
Captained by James Barker '16 (who is now running for Haverford College), Michael Carr '16, and Jackson Hoit '16 (who is currently throwing javelin for Emory University) for the boys' team, along with Sophia Cortazzo '16 (who is now pole vaulting for Johns Hopkins University), Libby Parsons '16 (now jumping for Notre Dame), and Libby Lee '16 (now jumping for Hamilton College) for the girls' team, the 2016 Track & Field Teams were able to secure second-place (boys' team) and first-place (girls' team) victories in the Non-Public "B" South Sectional Meet.
• The girls' team went on to place second overall in the Non-Public "B" state meet, while the boys' team fought hard for a ninth-place finish.
• Thirteen athletes—nine girls and four boys—among the largest number ever for the program, competed in the end-of-season Meet of Champions. There, pole vaulting phenom Julia Dannenbaum '17 took third in the state-wide event, clearing 12.'
• Sophia Weldon '18 was dominant in the long, triple (she holds the school record), and high jumps, winning the triple and high jumps at states last year.
What to watch for this season:
• Captains Thomas Tarantino '17 and Sean Wang '17 will be leading the boys' team, and Julia, Allyson Bisgay '17, Victoria Watson '17, and Sophia Weldon '18 will captain the girls' team.
• Following the girls' victory at the Non-Public "B" state championships over the winter track season (the boys' team took sixth), Big Blue will be competing with larger, and therefore more competitive, Non-Public "A" schools this spring season.
• Watch for Julia Dannenbaum '17, who recently pole-vaulted to a first-place finish at Meet of Champions during the winter track season—to continue her impressive senior-year performance. In the same event, her younger sister, Caroline, a freshman, who placed sixth at MOCs and second in the Non-Public "B" meet, is an up-and-comer to watch. Rounding out Pingry's pole-vaulting powerhouse team is freshman Carol Ann Perry, who took third at states, just behind Caroline.
• The girls' middle distance and distance teams will also be strong, led by Avery Shiffman '18, who, during MOCs in February, set a new indoor school record in the 800-meter run (2:21.7), and Anna Wood '18, who, in the 3200-meter run at MOCs, also set a new indoor school record (11:22.4). Sarah Moseson '17 will be a big contributor in the 100 high and 400 hurdles.
• On the boys' side, senior Thomas Tarantino, who finished third in the 3200-meter run at states last year, Ben Vazquez '18, who finished second in the 800-meter run in the state meet over the winter track season, and Sean Wang '17, who finished fifth in the same event, will lead a core middle-distance team.
• Several freshmen will help to add a great deal of depth to the team: Kierstyn Brown '20 (sprints), Caroline Dannenbaum '20 (pole vault, sprints, long jump), Carol Ann Perry '20 (pole vault, high jump, sprints), Kelsey Ransom '20 (sprints, long jump), Jennifer Ryan '20 (throws), Lauren Taylor '20 (sprints), and Nicole Vanasse '20 (middle and distance events). Roger Matthews '20 and Bert Yu '20 will help bolster the boys' roster as well.
Full-court Press:
"This year's team has the challenge of upping their performances to meet the better competition they will meet in the Non-Public "A" division, and I am sure they will meet the challenge."—Head Coach Tim Grant
"My goal this season is to broaden our base in distance events and jumping events to other events like sprints, middle distances, and relays. Building more depth in each will greatly help the team. I'd also like to broaden the overall depth of our team—due to injuries last year, we were very low on runners, which meant that there were no replacements if someone was sick. Beyond having fun, I'd like for us to stay healthy and safe too! Hopefully there will be some healthy in-team competition between the freshman and upperclassmen that will motivate everyone to improve as well."—Assistant Coach Sarah Christensen
"We have a number of freshman joining us who we'd love to see make an impact on the team for this season and grow into stronger athletes for the years to come. The outdoor season has always been my favorite—the warmer weather usually translates into faster times. For many of us, the spring season is a culmination of a year's worth of hard work (after cross country in the fall and winter track), where we'll meet some of the state's fastest teams. We are currently placed with Non-Public "A" schools, which means tougher competition, but with our team's work ethic and determination, we can rise to the occasion."—Captain Sean Wang '17
Photos (top to bottom): Sophia Weldon '18, Kamal Brown '19, and Anna Wood '18 competing last year.
Contact: Andrea Dawson, Senior Writer, adawson@pingry.org