The girls and boys indoor track seasons are coming to a close, with both teams having competed at the City Championships on February 21. Both teams are now heading to Frosh-Soph Championships on March 8, where only freshmen and sophomore will be competing. As athletes prepare for the upcoming competition through dedicated practices, some shared reflections on their goals, growth, and the season as a whole.
The girls indoor track team has had an eventful season, opening in late November with the Gobbler Classic, where several individual team members and relay teams placed in the top seven of their events. These included the 4×800 meter frosh (freshmen) and varsity teams, which placed second and third respectively. Additionally, junior Sophia Chen earned seventh in pole vault, and junior Leslie Linzan placed fourth in weight throw and seventh in shot put. Through December and January, the team returned to The Armory Track for seven additional meets to compete against other New York City public high schools.
At the Queens Borough Championships on February 8, the team took first place with a total of 96 points. Leslie broke the school record in weight throw with a distance of 30 feet 3.50 inches, junior Natalia Piszczatowski earned second place in both the 1500 and 3000 meter run, and junior Manyata Chhetri and sophomore Samantha Ganter placed first and second place in the 1500 meter racewalk, respectively.
As the season continued, the team faced challenges with filling spots in specific events with athletes. Sophomore Kelsey Ko said, “Some events we didn’t have runners or jumpers in, so it was hard to gain points in those sections.”
However, the team was able to adjust and overcome this obstacle by “introducing people to events they wouldn’t normally do and creating more opportunities for people to excel and do different things,” Kelsey said.
At the City Championships, Manyata placed second in the 1500 meter racewalk, earning a spot at the state competition. Kelsey placed tenth in triple jump, while the 4×800 meter varsity team finished sixth.
“Our team has improved a lot throughout the season with many personal records being broken and with people taking on new field events and placing well,” sophomore Sena Shew said.
The boys indoor track team has competed in many of the same meets as the girls team and will also be sending members to Frosh-Soph Championships in the coming month.
The team showcased their skills at the Martin Luther King Relays competition on January 19, where several athletes placed high in their events. Junior Giuseppe Volpe earned third in weight throw, while senior captain Shaw Williams placed eighth in the 600 meter run, and junior Alessio Volpe finished twelfth in the 55 meter high hurdles.
At the Queens Borough Championships, Giuseppe and freshman Rares Carstea swept first and second place in weight throw, respectively.
The team’s success continued through City Championships, where several members placed in their respective events. Giuseppe finished fifth in weight throw with a new personal best, and junior Tristan Lyner placed eleventh in the 55 meter high hurdles.
Their success did not come without struggles as athletes faced challenges in “battling injuries and illnesses left and right, all whilst learning to adjust from running miles in cross country to competing in relays and running on indoor tracks,” Shaw said.
Similarly, Rares said that the “toughest competition this year was probably the first meet [the team] attended” on November 30, as many members were brand new to the sport or were struggling with injuries. He added that the team “handled it by doing the best [it] possibly could.”
Boys indoor track coach Jake Ruiz described the season as “a successful rebuilding phase” due to the team being composed mainly of underclassmen, with a large group of freshmen. He added that while there were a number of injuries that affected athletes’ ability to participate in meets, the team maintained a “high level of talent and work ethic” and developed a “safe, cohesive, and motivated group” over the course of the season.
As Frosh-Soph Championships approach, both teams are not only preparing for the competition, but are also continuing to develop the skills and chemistry needed to excel in the upcoming outdoor season.
“The athletes built strong bonds and took ownership of their fitness…This indoor season has built a perfect foundation that we can build upon as we transition into the outdoor season,” said Mr. Ruiz.
