The girls indoor track team began their second meet of the season with their sights set on defeating Dedham. The team did just that by a final score of 78-17, a great win counteracting their loss to Natick the week before. There was a total of 11 personal records this meet, an even bigger overall improvement from the 8 achieved last week. With six individual athletes qualifying for states in the Natick meet, the success in the Winterfest Invitational, and the incredible final score against Dedham, things are looking up for the girls team.
The evening began with great success in the mile race. Two Walpole sophomores, Kristen Coyne and Gina Conti, ran sub-6:00 miles, with Coyne running 5:59 and Conti finishing in 5:34. Conti, although not setting a personal record for her season, ran the fastest girls mile in the entire meet that night. Also, sophomores Lucy Lynch and Megan Jenkins PR’ed and placed within 4 seconds of each other. Also, in the junior varsity mile, sophomore Nicki D’Andrea and junior Danielle Levya ran personal records and broke 7 minutes. For D’Andrea, this was her first sub-7:00 mile ever.
Next up was the 1,000 meter race. Sophomore Veronica Hayes ran a personal record of 3:56, while sophomore Gabbi Petruzziello placed first against Dedham and third in the heat overall. In the 600, there were two personal records set; One of which by senior Captain Christina Freiberger with a time of 1:53, and the other by sophomore Michelle Lucas running a 1:57. Freshman Cassidy Jackson competed in the 300 meter with a personal record of 49.16 seconds. Rebel runners in the two mile also saw great success. Junior Megan Peterson came close to a sub-13:00 two mile, running it in exactly 13:00 and sophomore Ashley Waldron came just under with a time of 12:58.
Other events in the field, such as long jump, showed great performance as well. Particularly, senior Erin McCarthy, who has been doing especially well lately, jumped a personal record of 15’10.25″. McCarthy has qualified for states in every meet she has participated in thus far into the season.
With the bulk of personal records this week acompanied by a solid final score against Dedham, the team has a great future ahead. Not only are girls improving for the season already but many have been stepping up their times from last season as well. They have also welcomed many talented newcomers this year. A handful of sprinters had also trained during all of fall in preparation for a challenging season, such as McCarthy, junior Maddy Shea, and sophomore Savonna Small-Brown. The team is on track for a thriving 2012 season.
