The official start of the spring season for high schools in our area was Friday, March 7th, but our Spring Track Team did a good job staying ahead of that deadline. The seniors on the team have been running practices since the beginning of February trying to motivate the team and get ready for a smooth first day of practice, which came faster than they expected. About 25 kids came out for the team this year, a small number compared to past years, which have averaged around 55 athletes. Taylor Myshkoff, a senior on the team, feels that “following up last year’s seniors isn’t going to be any easy task…”, but he’s excited for the challenge. Although many do not want to admit it, this may have to be a rebuilding year for the Highlanders. The runners have expressed that the reason for their small numbers is competition with other sports. For boys, the spring season in the past was only split between baseball and track, but now lacrosse and rugby are both gaining popularity.
Many on the team, however, declare that they are remaining optimistic. These include the three senior captains this year, James Hoffman, Justin Lombardo, and Zack Tynan, who are determined for a good winning season. Tynan is riding on the fact that a large group of freshmen have come out. Tynan states that all the freshmen are “hopeful” and that this may lead to an unexpected “promising season, despite the low numbers.” Hoffman is a thrower on the team competing in shot put and discus and hopes to break all of his personal records from last year. Lombardo is a hurdler and mid-distance runner, who, after having the most points of any junior on the team last year, hopes to contribute even more in 2014. Tynan is a sprinter, mid-distance runner, and jumper who has just come out of a very successful winter season being named to the first team all-conference for long jumping. Tynan, Lombardo, and Hoffman all participated in winter track, with Lombardo and Hoffman both being captains.
Other athletes to watch out for are Liam Lakardis, a junior thrower; Kevin Kane, a junior pole vaulter and sprinter; Taylor Myshkoff, a senior hurdler; Matthew Johnson, a sophomore sprinter; Orian Aurand, a senior long distance runner; Philip Federico, a senior jumper and sprinter; and Spencer Scott, a junior long distance runner. Myshkoff states that “losing a lot of talent isn’t easy. The juniors and seniors are going to have to push more than the last few years.”
All the athletes have a long season ahead of them, but do have much preparation time of over a month. Their first meet is scheduled for April 2, away, against both WayneHills and WayneValley. Their first home meet is against Lakeland on Monday, April 7. Please come out and support the Highlander team throughout their season!
