Coming into the 2013-2014 Indoor Track campaign, the girls hope to continue their Cross Country success into the winter. In the 2012-2013 season, five runners qualified for the Division II meet, two runners qualified for All State Championships, and even one girl ran in the New England Championships. This year the captains are Kristen Coyne (a distance runner) Olivia O’Hara (a sprinter and jumper) Anna Orfanidis (a thrower) and Gina Conti (a middle distance runner). Also, this year both the boys and the girls Walpole Track and Field teams have been moved down a Division to Division III; thus, Walpole could send even more girls to All-States.
Unfortunately the girls lost their best athlete, Maddy Shea, to graduation. Shea competed in the All State Championships in the long jump her junior and senior year. Without Shea, the team looks to fill in her missing gaps. The other empty spaces include hurdles, shot put, and high jump. Coach Cashman said,”While we have individuals who score necessary points in those events, we lack the top end talent that we have in other events.”
With a successful Cross Country season and the break-out star of junior Allie Morris, the middle distance and distance events should be the strongest for the team. With the return of Gina Conti, a qualifier in the 600 meters for New England, the team will have experience in the middle distance group. Along with the top distance runner in Morris, senior Kristen Coyne and junior Lucy Lynch will lead the mile and 2 mile crew. The girls also have strength in the 55 meter dash as well as the 300 meters.
“We have have returners Dmitra Weathers and Hiromi Kondo and newcomer Olivia O’Hara who should solidify our sprint group. Kondo and O’Hara should also solidify Long Jump,” said Coach Cashman.
The biggest change this year for Walpole is their transition from Division II to Division III. The change is not necessarily a bad thing because the state qualifying times are not as challenging to meet. For the season, Coach Cashman has certain goals he would like his team to reach by the end of February: “We want to win the Herget Championship, and we want to be competitive at the Division III State Meet this year.” Last year the team did not win the Herget Title because the girls lost to Wellesley and Natick. This year, these teams will be the most challenging to beat again.
On December 12, the Rebels will compete in their first dual meet against Dedham.
