Strong Midseason Showings For North Girls Track

In a similar predicament to East's program, the North girls winter track team had to split its lineups to attend both the rescheduled Marine Corps Holiday Classic (originally set for December 27 at New York City's Armory track facility) and the Rhode Island Classic. The snowstorm made it so both meets fell on December 29.

In response, North head coach Alex Young said he ended up sending a good portion of the team to the Holiday Classic, as only 24 athletes allowed per school at the Rhode Island Classic.

At the Armory that day, shot putter Brittany Wienclaw threw 29' 5 3/4" - a career best, and Young said she is excited to soon break the 30-foot barrier. Distance runners Brianna DeLuca, Kristina Schrepf and Dana Castro had indoor best split times in the 4 X 800-meter relay.

Co-coaches Mike Mastrogiacomo and Ryan Stillufsen traveled with the Holiday Classic competitors; Young with the Providence-bound part of his team.

"Those three girls and Brittany set a good example for us, with their level of enthusiasm and good race preparation," said Young of the Holiday Classic effort. "For us, I kind of wish we had the Rhode Island squad there, we gave up team depth. Our stronger performers were in Rhode Island, so our relays weren't as competitive as they might've been. But for us, it's still early enough in the season, so it's something to build on. Our team is pretty far ahead of where they were last season."

Meanwhile in Providence at theRhode Island Classic, North exceeded expectations. "It's always fun to walk away from meets," Young said. "It doesn't matter as much as a good race, but we medaled in quite a few events."

Kiera Wood enjoyed a bevy of accomplishments: She scored sixth place in triple jump with a distance of 33' 11 3/4";  took fifth in the 800-meter run, finishing in 2:22.64; and anchored the sixth-place 4 X 800-meter relay team, timing 10:16.89.

"That was a fantastic time for us," Young said of the relay. Other members of that team were lead-off runner Kayla Cataldo, Mary Cipriano and Becca Duffy (in order). "That time's going to get us into postseason and the state quals. To get that kind of a time at this point in the season is a big deal."

Also up at Providence, North's school record for the shuttle hurdle relay was broke by over half a second. In order, runners Mishaina Joseph, Samantha Swift, Kristina Cheng, and Andrea Hegarty combined to clock in for a fifth-place finish of 39.22 seconds (the old record was 40.01 seconds). Shanice Futrell led North in the long jump, placing sixth with a season best of 16' 7 3/4". Stephanie Richer took fifth in the triple jump with a season-best distance of 34' 8".

"We mixed in well and came out with some great times and some good place finishes," said Young. "To be on the track with those teams, we have to go against teams who could push us around a bit."

At the field event contest at Connetquot High School on December 30, the pole vault performances weren't quite what Young had hoped for, but North grabbed the top two spots in high jump - Carly Swinford (5'1"), and Kristie Michta (5' flat) - plus six of the top eight spots in shot put. Wienclaw came back that that day to again lead the shot putters, tossing 29 ' 9 1/2" to improve on her Holiday Classic throw by more than five inches.

"She doesn't have just one good throw in a series," said Young of Wienclaw. "She's very competitive, and she's got the kind of commitment it takes to be successful. She's a great leader for us."

Supporting teammates in the event were Marisa Romano (second place, 28' 1 1/2"), Parisa Saghati (fourth place, 25' 10"), Kaitlyn Okvist (sixth place, 25' 1 1/2"), Samantha Olson (seventh place, 23' 9 1/2") and Danielle Dragotta (23' 8"). Connetquot took the other two places - third and fifth - among the top eight.

Back at the Western Campus of Suffolk County Community College for Crossover C on January 2, the momentum continued.

"There were fifteen events, and we scored in the top six in eleven of them," said Young. Even better: More than one athlete finished in the top six for seven of North's events, but Young said perfection isn't the immediate goal. "We're still trying to find best events for some of our athletes. Not necessarily kids doing their best in events now, but take out of comfort zone a little bit and get good experience."

In the 4 X 200-meter relay, the team of Futrell, Richer, Swinford, and Wood (in order) took their fastest time by far this season - 1:52.55 - for the win. "As good a distance runner as she is, she helped our relay too," said Young of Wood, who stepped in to fill the anchor position when the original runner had to step aside. "She's a good alternate for us."

Swift ran a winning season-best race in the 55-meter hurdles, timing 9.39 seconds, credited by Young as "the strongest hurdle effort of the season" thus far. Teammate Krystal Cheng took fourth place in the same event, finishing in 10.11 seconds.

Other wins included Wood's effort in the 600-meter (1:41.97) and in the triple jump (33' 10 1/4") and Kelly Lavan in the 3,000-meter run (11:21.76).

Just as they had at Connetquot, North made significant impressions at the shot put and the high jump spots. Kristie Michta placed second in the high jump (5' flat), followed closely by Futrell and Swinford (each 4' 8")  in third and fourth respectively and Marysa Mullen in sixth (4' 6"). Futrell also took fifth in the 55-meter dash, timing 8.05 seconds. 

Wienclaw again led North in the shot put, throwing 29' 4" for third place. Saghati (28' 10") and Cataldo (27' 3") scored consecutive fifth and sixth placements. Cataldo also grabbed third in the long jump with a distance of 14' 10 1/2" and a third-place finish in the 600-meter (1:46.92). Richer timed 45.69 seconds in the 300-meter dash to place third, also placing sixth in the triple jump - she landed at 31' 1 1/2".

In addition, Cipriano captured second place in the 1,000-meter, running it in 3:19.78. Duffy got fifth place in that event, finishing in 3:25.65.

"The girls are pretty humble," said Young. "They're not where they want to be yet, but they know that what we do now is not the end-all, and that they can't anything for granted. They're working hard."

Looking ahead to the Hispanic Games on January 8 (8:45 a.m. start time), Young plans to bring a smaller crew than usual - just distance runners for a 1,600-meter, racewalkers, hurdlers, and several pole vaulters. "Instead of a full team meet, we'll focus on specific events," he said, adding that this will be only opportunity this season for the racewalkers to race at the Armory, whose facility includes a banked track. Katie Michta, who went to the nationals last year as a racewalker, is among those looking forward to go again. 

Prior to the Hispanic Games will be the final girls crossover meet at SCCC's Western Campus in Brentwood, slated for Jan. 5 at 7:30 p.m.