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12/18/2023 12:18 PMFor the Valley Regional boys’ and girls’ indoor track teams this winter, each squad is geared upon building from last year’s strides. Neither team placed as a group in states, though with some rising numbers, Valley is aiming to improve upon that status and stake their claim in the team standings when it comes to conference and state competition.
“We are excited about our overall numbers this year and the athletes' interest in track and field,” said Head Coach Brian Drinkard.
Up front is a talented and diverse senior class on both rosters. Clara Shea and Abigail Reardon will highlight a 4x200 relay team for the girls, while individually Shea shines as a sprinting specialist, and then Reardon will join Shea in the sprinting section.
On the boys’ end for senior athletes, Zachary Scott and Avi Siegel will leg it out in the lanes as distance runners and competitors, plus Liam Welch and Aiden Babek will be two key components in the 4x200 relay squad, in addition to McKinley Hartt (who will look to lead in the high jump individually as a solo act). Welch additionally serves as a sprinter and Babek a high jumper. In the field, Chris Lopez will look to stand out in the shot put.
Serving as captains on the girls’ side will be both Shea and Reardon sharing the stewardship duties. Their male counterparts will be Babek and Lopez.
“We have a great group of seniors who have been improving over the years,” said Drinkard. “We also have a solid group of underclassmen to fill out the team.”
Speaking of those underclassmen, in the junior class, Campbell Massey will look to aid the girls with her field work as a pole vaulter while doubling as a high jumper, and then her male classmate Lyle Pitman will vary as a mid and long-distance runner. Sophomore Rowan Herlihy is back after her rousing rookie campaign as a freshman.
As is quite often the case for the indoor circuit of track, it is not so much about accumulating points or winning meets during the regular season, but rather Valley’s main concerns are simply to get everyone constantly and consistently improving upon the day prior in each of their crafts in order to prime themselves as a unit for the postseason.
“Our goal for the season is for everyone to work towards individual goals,” said Drinkard on his teams’ targets for the season.
For the 2022-2023 campaign, the 4x200 relay grouping that included Shea and Reardon qualified for Shorelines and states. Baldwin also qualified for states in the 300 meters. Massey and now-junior Kendall Costello both qualified for Shorelines in pole vault. Massey went on to qualify for states.
In the high jump, Hartt and Babek qualified for Shorelines. Babek finished second in Shorelines and qualified for states. Herlihy qualified for Shorelines in the 600 and the 1000, and she PR’d and qualified for states. Babek qualified for Shorelines in that event as well, and Babek was All-Shoreline Second Team in the high jump.
The 2023-2024 Valley Regional boys’ indoor track team roster is comprised of seniors Jonathan Alberto, Babek, Stephen Courcy, Hartt, Alex Lenda, Lopez, Scott, Siegel, Welch; juniors of Edward Johnson, Cooper Mondelci, Pitman, Andrew Thomas; sophomores of Jackson Carson, Oliver Proctor; plus freshmen Mark Condon, Jalen Harrell, Jonathon Howley, Finn Recchia, and Brodie Whelan.
The 2023-2024 Warriors’ girls’ roster includes seniors with Reardon, Sharmel Rivera, Hannah Schwartzman, Shea, Madeline Siegel, Emilee Surber; juniors Lily Belcher, Costello, Danna Lopez-Criollo, Delny Marsden, Amelia Martinez, Massey, Cecilia Wilkens; sophomores Addie Guzalis, Herlihy, Anahi Matute, Madelyn Riebold, Carly Sonn, Sonya Xaypanya; along with freshmen Kayleigh Cornett, and Sara Delouchry.