Winter Track Anticipates Challenging Season

The Winter Track team’s 2023-2024 season start date is approaching in the upcoming weeks. Practices have been in full swing since November 27th. The coaches and team members are planning to start their season strong and continue to improve from the season prior. 

Head Coach Gerald Ryan has been involved with coaching the team for many years. “It has been a fulfilling learning experience for me to be the head coach over the years,” Ryan said.
 

 Over the course of his coaching, Ryan has grown strong bonds with the coaching staff and team members, which has developed his interest in the sport further. “I have been fortunate to expand my knowledge of the sport through wonderful interactions with my amazing coaching staff and many others,” Ryan said. 

When thinking back on last year’s season, Ryan discussed how the team persevered through many difficult meets and accomplished extraordinary goals. “Last year we were very excited when our girls team of Marcella Blancato (23’), Emma Kirby (23’), Adrianna Quinn (23’), Jaylin Romero, and [Sophomore] Meya Ranges broke two school relays records at the Essex County Meet,” Ryan said. 

Along with the successful performances of the team members, Ryan was proud to acknowledge the growth of the younger team members. “We were very excited about the large and talented group of sophomores and freshmen from last season that all showed improvement,” Ryan said. 
 

On December 9th, the team plans to attend a polar bear meet, which is an outdoor meet not included in the indoor rankings, at Foley Field against local teams. Their first official indoor meet is at Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island on December 15th, where they will compete against multiple schools from both in and out of state.

 In order to prepare the team, Ryan is planning to hold multiple training sessions. “We will be able to get a few quality workouts in before the meets so hopefully performances will be promising,” Ryan said. 

One member of the team, junior Ava Costanzo first participated on the winter track team her freshman year. “I have always enjoyed running, so track has been in my life since 4th grade,” Costanzo said when asked why she joined the team. Costanzo is looking forward to switching gears back to winter track and adding to her accomplishments.

During the previous winter season Costanzo participated in sprinting events such as the 55m run and 200m run. “Last season I PR’d [personal record] at almost every race,” Costanzo said when reflecting back on her performance from last year’s season. 

For this upcoming season, Costanzo plans to compete in those events in order to achieve personal goals. “I’m hoping to get faster than last season and PR at every meet,” Costanzo said. While in off season, Costanzo has been participating in both the cross country and spring track team in order to continue progressing.

Along with training in the off season, Costanzo is pushing herself harder than in the previous seasons. “I have to change my mindset on running,” said Costanzo, “That means working out on days off and competing to the best of my ability.” 
 

Similar to Costanzo, junior Audrey Dunlay has been on the winter track team since freshman year and is also a part of the cross country and spring track team. 

During the season, Dunlay enjoys creating unforgettable memories and bonds with her team members. “Track has allowed me to gain friends I would have never interacted with beforehand,” Dunlay said. “I’m forever grateful for the friendships I have gained through track,” Dunlay said. 

Dunlay hopes to accomplish some of her own personal goals. “For this indoor track season, I really want to surpass my PR’s from last year’s meets,” Dunlay said. Dunlay says she has been performing much better at practices this season than last year which has given her hope on the outcome of meets. 

As the first meet comes closer, the coaches and team members plan to continue working together in order to get the results they hope to achieve at meets this upcoming season.