Published March 17, 2021

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

LYNNFIELD — Christine Smith is back for her sixth year as head coach of the Lynnfield High boys’ indoor track team this season. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was moved from the winter to the Fall 2 season that started on Feb. 22.

The season will take place outdoors and will end on April 25 with no MIAA postseason.

Last winter, the Pioneers finished at 2-3 overall as they came in fourth place out of six schools in the Cape Ann League Baker Division. Five seniors graduated from that squad.

Due to the fact that football is also being played during this time, the team has been negatively impacted as Smith lost 11 members who are playing football instead. Two of them, Joe LaFerla, D.J. Cappachietti, were slated to be the senior captains this year.

Mike Dreher will return as he is the other senior captain. He is a thrower and does the 600 meters as well. The two new senior captains are Mike Madden and John Briggs. Madden is a distance runner while Briggs throws, sprints and competes in the high jump.

“Not having those football players will have a big impact,” acknowledged Smith, who teaches at Tewksbury High.

Lynnfield will only have seven veterans back and a total roster of 19.

The team started practice at the high school the first week and a half before moving to the middle school.

“We had to practice in the parking lot the first week,” recalled Smith, due to the snow. “The athletes have been very dedicated despite the cold weather we have had.”

The team will have a long preseason as the first regular season meet isn’t slated until March 29. Lynnfield will either have four or five meets as she schedule has still not been decided yet.

The Pioneers will take on CAL Baker division opponents, Manchester-Essex, Ipswich and Amesbury. If they have another meet it will be a crossover against a CAL Kinney Division team.

Due to COVID-19 protocols, the athletes must wear mask. Also, the high jump mat and shot put must be sanitized. The sprinters will be put in every other lane for social distancing purposes and the distance runners will have more staggers starts.

Lynnfield was able to put together a scrimmage at North Reading on March 25 at 3:30 p.m.

“The kids are very excited to be able to get a scrimmage meet,” said Smith, who feels that the time will be slower than last year due to the weather factor.