The varsity girl’s track team is still going strong after an impressive 2013 spring season. School records were broken by the relay teams and sprinters. The elite “track stars” were sent to prestigious invitationals, including the Penn Relays (Philadelphia, PA), the Loucks Games (White Plains, NY), Section XI’s Division Meet, and State Qualifiers.
A total of 14 girls represented Westhampton Beach at the Division Meet on May 20th and May 22nd at Connetquot HS. The team consisted of the 4x400M relay team, sprinters, 1500M race walkers, jumpers (high jump and long jump), pole vaulters, and throwers (shot put and discus). Gold medals were awarded to freshman high jumper Keira Kelly, sophomore 200M sprinter Lauren Lorefice, and senior race walker Annica Penn. Silver medals were awarded to junior race walker Sabrina Mason and sophomore 100M sprinter Lauren Lorefice, while senior Steffi Vickers received bronze in the 800M sprint. The combined efforts of the team helped rank our track program fourth in Division III.
The track season officially started on March 4 in very cold weather. At that time, the Division Meet wasn’t on the minds of the 60-something girls on the track team. Running quarters through the cold and finishing up a grueling core workout was all that most girls could think of. Fast-forward two months, and the Division Meet was all over the minds of 14 girls.
Training for Divisions was not an easy process. Race walkers Sabrina Mason and Ellen Griffin spent many days going on distance race walks, along with race walking quarters. They also “ate healthy and built up stamina.” Keira Kelly “ran, got in steps, and completed jumping drills” for high jump. Senior long jumper Nikki Haber “did pliometrics and practiced jumping into the (sand) pit.” Sophomore 3000M runner Olivia Horbatiuk “went on distance runs and ate a lot of food.”
Along with the training, there were strict requirements to determine the Division qualification status. The top 18 race walkers get in for each division. The starting height for high jump is four feet, eight inches, while pole vault starts at seven feet, six inches. Long jump requires a distance of over 14 feet. Shot put commands a throw of over 27 feet. With hard work and determination, all of these requirements have greatly been surpassed by the team.
Think you have what it takes to compete side by side in high-ranking meets with the elites of the Division team? Join track! You could be the next champion of your event!