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Thunderbirds' Girls' Track Strides to a Strong Season

Despite not ending the season with a Shoreline Conference or state championship, the North Branford girls' outdoor track team had a 6-4 campaign this spring that was filled with many great achievements.

The Thunderbirds were led by captains in senior Sarah McDonald (Coach's Award) and junior Jordan Miket (MVP). Seniors McDonald, Stephanie Torniero and Jessica Wharton concluded their careers and the Thunderbirds had additional key contributions from freshmen Marissa Bale, Sara Olsen, and Rachel Sokoloff; sophomores Natalie Baughan (Desire and Dedication Award), Leah Martino, Katelyn Pantera (Rookie of the Year Award), and Jaimy Rippe; along with juniors Rachel Boyers (Coach's Award), Hayley Gomez, and Chelsea Meagher.

Pantera competed in the triple jump, long jump, and as a member of the 4x100 relay team and also qualified for both the long jump and the 4x100 relay at both the Shoreline Conference Championship and Class M State Championship. She was also a member of the team that placed fifth at this season's Shoreline Championship.

Baughan was an additional spark plug for success with the Thunderbirds. She competed in the long jump, 100 dash, 200 dash, and as a member of the 4x100 relay team, qualifying for both the Shoreline Conference Championship and Class M meet in all three events.

Miket competed in five events throughout the season. She ran a leg on the 4x100 relay team, competed in the 200 and 400 dashes, the 300 hurdles, and the high jump, and qualified for Shorelines and states in three of those events (4x100, 200, and the high jump). The junior also qualified for the Shoreline Championship in the 300 hurdles and the 400 and made Second Team All-Shoreline by placing second in the high jump at 4-10.

Also this season, McDonald competed in seven events, including the 200 dash, 800, the 4x800 relay, the 4x400 relay, the javelin, the 1,600, and the 3,200, and qualified for the Shoreline Championship in the 800, along with being a member of the 4x800 relay at Shorelines.

Boyers competed in three events this season-the 100 and 300 hurdles, along with the long jump, and qualified for both the Shoreline Conference Championship and Class M State Championship in all three, coming in sixth place in the 100 hurdles and eighth in the long jump at the further meet.