NORTH READING — Coming off a successful indoor track and field season that saw the Hornets win a third straight State Championship, the girls’ outdoor track and field team is looking to three-peat as well.
The outdoor track and field team is on a tremendous streak having finished in the top three in every state championship since 2014. This year’s seniors are certainly ready to keep the streak alive and lead this team of 54 athletes to reach their individual and team goals.
“Our number one goal is to have fun and create some lasting memories and friendships,” said head coach Sotirios Pintzopoulos. “In addition to that, we will seek to win the Cape Ann League Championship, Relay Championship and State Championship.”
Despite graduating several seniors, Pintzopoulos is optimistic for another successful season this spring. Assistant coaches Tom Ledoux and Andrew Falanga (Throws), Joe Davis (Distance), Kirsten MacLellan and Josh Rocco (Sprints, Jumps, Hurdles) and volunteer coaches Meredith Martin and Josh Bornstein join Pintzopoulos in guiding this year’s team. The team is made up of both junior varsity and varsity athletes that will train together and compete at a variety of meets including junior varsity level, varsity level, state invitational and state level championships. They will sprint, run, jump, hurdle and throw as they seek to better themselves as athletes and individuals.
The coaching staff is confident that the team has tremendous potential but will certainly need to put in a lot of work if they desire to repeat as state champions. Captains Ava Collins, Isabelle Lazure, Giuliana Ligor, Callie MacLellan and Hayden MacLellan will lead this year’s team. Giuliana, Callie and Hayden are each coming off a long indoor track and field season that had them training up until last week as they competed at the New Balance National Championship in the Pentathlon and Shuttle Hurdle relay along with junior Katie Zimmerman. A full story on Nationals will appear next week. Returning senior athletes include Sophie Boudoya, Erin Dee, and Jacquelyn Genzler (throws) Alana Hannon and Julia Scammon (sprints and jumps) and Paige Helferich (Distance). The junior class is small but mighty made up of Genevieve Arden, Miriana Bornstein, Harshini Gopinath, and Catherine Reddington (throws), Giuliana Auciello and Katie Zimmerman (sprints, jumps, hurdles) and Quinlan Kelly and Abigail Meier (Distance).
The sophomore class has 20 athletes, which is the largest single grade number in program history, many of which are returning state qualifying athletes from last year. Katie Attwood, Jemma Hanegraaff, Adelyn Kelly, Riley MacDonald and Gabby Montanye will hold down the distance events. Kate Denehy, Shea Farmer, Maddy Forbush, Fiona Griffin, Annika Molla, Brooke Morris, Sina Nickerson, Julia Petrosino and Alivia Poirier will lead the way in the sprints, jumps and hurdles. Mia Karafilidis, Willow Koepke, Lukaina Noel, and Sydney Scholz will add strength in the throwing events. Adelyn, Riley, Maddy and Julia all are coming off of strong indoor seasons in which they competed at the championship level. Sophia Gallivan and Elizabeth Sandovich will handle the multi events as the sprint, jump, throw and hurdle throughout the season. Both Sophia and Elizabeth are coming off of a strong rookie season from last spring.
Not to be outdone, the 9th grade class also has strong numbers with 15 total athletes. Leading the way will be Adrianna Driscoll, Madelyn Favuzza, and Maya Grossi who each were part of the indoor track and field team, with Favuzza competing and scoring points at the league championship and just missing qualifying for the state championship by inches in the jumping events. Joining them will be Meliina Capolupo, Gianna Freccero, Hannah Frew and Kelsey Quinn (throws); Lindsey Cook, Chloe DeAngelis, Braelyn Eng, Kayla Faulkner, Lily Galvin and Sibelle Jradeh (sprints, jumps, hurdles) and Brooke Griffin and Paige Vant (Distance). Each of these girls will be looking to add themselves to the varsity team roster as they seek to achieve their goals for the season.
The Hornets open up their season away vs. Newburyport on Wednesday, April 9 at the Bradley Fuller Field and Track at 40 Low Street, Newburyport. The meet will start at 4:30 p.m.