After a mediocre season last winter, Walpole Girls Track looked to improve upon their previous record of 3-3. With many new athletes on the team, and many returning athletes, the team had more than enough potential than it needed to succeed this year. Unfortunately last year’s leading top scorer, former senior Captain Maddy Shea, left very big shoes to fill with her nearly unbeatable personal records and her extreme diversity in talent. However, this season, sophomore Hiromi Kondo has stepped up to become the current top scorer of the team and filled the spots Shea left in many different events. Over the course of the season, she has racked up a total of 44.5 points.
Last year, as a freshman, Kondo impressed everyone with her extraordinary talent in the 55 meter dash. Also, last year, Kondo decided to try hurdles one day at practice. Unexpectedly, Kondo competed successfully in the hurdles at two meets. However, Kondo’s biggest feat of last year was her unbelievable long jumping skills; at the end of the season, she established herself as the second best long jumper on the team — behind Shea.
After her first season of track, Kondo had the third best time (7.91) for any freshman in Walpole High history. She also became the number one freshman long jumper in Walpole High history.
This season, Kondo came back fully determined to improve her already nearly unbeatable times. On December 12, at Walpole’s first meet against Dedham, Kondo placed first in the 55 meter dash with a time of 8.02 seconds and in long jump with 14’4’’. She also placed second in the 55 meter hurdles with an impressive PR of 10.65.
In Walpole’s meet against Natick on January 23, Kondo placed second in the 55 meter dash and third in long jump. She also was the anchor leg of the 4×200 relay, in which she set a PR with a time of 27.70 seconds. The next week on January 30, Kondo had her season PR in long jump—reaching an incredible length of 15’3. She placed third in both long jump and the dash.
Since the start of the season, Kondo has also competed in four invitational meets, the Winter Festival, the Freshman/ Sophomore meet, the State Relays, and the Coaches Invite Meet. At Winter Fest, she made the finals for the 55 meter dash with her time of 7.87 and finished 13th overall with her season PR of 7.85.
Kondo may be talented in several different events, but she does have a favorite. She said, “My favorite event is long jump because you get more than one try and there are more ways to improve and see the change.”
In the beginning of the season, Kondo set the bar very high. She not only left everyone else on the team trying to surpass her PRs for the dash and long jump, but she also finds herself constantly trying to beat these records herself.
Kondo said, “This season I want to run a 7.84 in the dash, break nine in the hurdles, and jump 15 feet in long jump.”
Clearly, Kondo set high hopes for this season, but she has already achieved the one she set for long jump. Unfortunately she is just .01 seconds away from being her goal in the dash, and .30 seconds away from beating her goal in hurdles.
Kondo has now established herself as the second fastest 55 meter dash runner, the second best long jumper on the team, and the second best hurdler on the team behind junior Claire Rinne. She has also tried several other events including the 4×200 meter relay and high jump- proving to be a very clutch leg of the relay. She has qualified for the Division III Championship for long jump.
Other than track, Kondo is on the Walpole Girls Varsity Soccer Team. Last year, as a freshman, she was called up to be on the tournament team, and continues to be a big part of the team. Her quick feet and incredible speed allow her to stand out while playing soccer.
The biggest part of Kondo’s athletic life, however, is gymnastics. She fell in love with the sport in second grade and has been doing it ever since. On top of playing high school sports year round (soccer in the fall and track in the winter and spring), she has gymnastics every day.
Kondo said, “I go home from track practice, do my homework, and then go to gymnastics.”
With such a busy schedule, Kondo must work hard to be successful in everything she does. Her hard work has definitely paid off, especially in track, as she stands as the top 55 meter runner and the top long jumper on the team. Within the first four meets, Kondo has scored more points than anyone else on the team. With two more seasons left to improve, who knows what else Hiromi Kondo will accomplish.
