Lady Raiders look to continue success of indoor season
EVENTS SUCH as the long jump will be a strength for the Melrose High School girls outdoor track team who begins their season this week. (file photo)
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE — The 2015 girls’ outdoor track team won’t have to worry about being competitive this season. Their only concern now is getting outside and securing track space so they can begin their spring campaign.
This Wednesday (post deadline) the team was slated to begin their season with an opener against Reading. Because of poor conditions at the track and field complex at Pine Banks Park, Melrose hit the road instead to face the Rockets on their turf.
“Most of our early season training has been indoors, it’s been a challenge,” reports head coach Trevor Rudolph. “We went on the turf at Fred Green Field to practice some field events but we’re going to be getting outside for the first time this week.”
The increasingly popular sport has drawn the most numbers this spring, so there will be plenty of legs that can sprint to victory. “We’re the biggest team in the school this year. We have 87 girls in the program. We had a lot of success over the winter that we hope will translate outside,” reports the coach.
Some of that talent left last season with state champ Annalisa DeBari running at Tufts and former Lady Raiders Amani Ingram and Ashley King running for Providence College. It’s been a wonderful tradition of winning for Melrose girl’s track and field, one that Rudolph feels will continue.
“Once again our major strength is our jumping team. We’ve had a lot of success in the triple jump, high jump and hurdles in years past and I expect it to continue.”
Look for Maddie Oro and Haley Moss to continue their dominant high jump from their winter season. In the long jump sophomore Anne Morrison will be one year stronger from last year when she medaled in states and almost qualified for All-New Englands. On the triple jump look for Emily Donovan and Sarah Denning to keep Melrose’s winning tradition alive.
The team will be led by senior captains Melissa Walsh, Shaylan McCarthy, Emily McCarthy and Lauren Connolly.
The team’s relay teams should consist of Emily Donovan, Lauren Connolly, Sarah Herron, Holly Cohan (4×400) and the 4×100 team could be led by Anne Morrison, Emily Donovan, Lauren Connolly and Kathleen Denning.
Sprinters should include Emily Bertolaccini, Anne Morrison, Lauren Cincotta and Meghan Cincotta. Tackling the hurdles will be Melissa Walsh, Emily Donovan, Haley Moss and Sarah Denning.
Distance runners included Liz Hirsch and Tara O’Shea in the two mile and Lydia Gyurina, Holly Moore and Emily McCarthy in the mile.
Last year Melrose competed toe-to-toe will league champ Burlington, who Rudolph expects will be tough again. “Burlington is always competitive and we can never take Wakefield for granted.”
But overall every team on their schedule is a team to beat. “We worry about every team that faces us and are focusing one meet at a time.”
2015 Season Schedule
Wed. 4/8 3:30 p.m. @ Reading
Sat. 4/11 10 a.m. @ Malden (Pine Banks)
Mon. 4/13 3:30 p.m. @ Stoneham
Thu. 4/16 3:30 p.m. @ Wilmington
Tue. 4/28 3:30 p.m. @ Burlington
Tue. 5/5 3:30 p.m. vs. Wakefield Memorial H.S.
Tue. 5/12 3:30 p.m. vs. Watertown
Sat. 5/16 9 a.m. @ Burlington (Relay Meet)
Tue. 5/19 t.b.a. League Meet at Reggie Lewis Center
Sun. 5/31 9 a.m. States at Durfee High
