Experience on Eagles' side

By Zack Bellerdine / The Citizen

Saturday, December 8, 2007 11:47 PM EST

Anytime you have a champion on your track and field team, you can expect good things.
That's the case for Jordan-Elbridge.

Entering her senior year, Katie Darling looks to return the success she had in the spring during the outdoor track and field season. In the Section III B-1 championships, she won the triple jump and was a sectional runner up in the long jump. Her personal bests are 16-1 in the long jump and 33-8.25 in the triple jump.

“Katie displays the attitude and motivation that is needed to compete at a high level,” Eagles coach Todd Wolfanger said. “She is a great team leader and is poised to have a great season ahead of her this year.”

Darling was named as one of two captains for the Eagles heading into this year. She will be joined by seniors Lyndsay Hollis, Margie Bailey.

Hollis will compete in the long sprints and Bailey also will be competing in sprints. Hanne Bailey will also be new and competing in sprints. They are just a few of the 23 girls that make up the Eagles team this year, though the team, with just four seniors, seems to lack one thing -- experience.

Auburn Maroons

Coach: Eli Hernandez

The loss of Liz Calandro and Nikki Szczepanski won't be easy but with the help of a couple of top returnees for the Maroons, it won't be that hard either.

Kara Catino will be returning for another season as a jumper, distance runner, and a sprinter. She will have a lot of help this year from Patricia Fleischman, Meghan Guzewicz, Tiara Tillmon, Tiffany Parker, Mary Gleason and Kelsey Quest.

Fleischman will run in the sprinting and mid-distance events, as well as contribute in the jumping categories. Guzewicz runs the distance meets, Parker will run in the sprint meets and Gleason participates in the distance events along with Quest.

A lack of a strong distance runners and small girls will hurt the Maroons. They will have to spread out their athletes and hope to improve.

“It's still too early to say what events each girl will participate in.” Maroons coach Eli Hernandez said. “I expect them to give me their all and that will be good enough.”

The Maroons may have a few weaknesses but that won't stop them from being competitive.

Hernandez also expects them to keep up with other teams in the league. Moravia Blue Devils

Coach: Jan Hunsinger

Moravia returns a wealth of talent, if not numbers from last season.

That includes Jen Cornwell, who looks to see if she can pick up her 2006 form when she earned Section IV Champion in the shot put. Hunsinger will lead his Blue Devils into Section IV Class C/D against opponents such as Trumansburg, Sidney and Lansing.

Joining Cornwell, is Emily Dusseau, who was was sixth in the class' 300 meter dash. Jessica Higgins was fourth in the 55-meter hurdles.

Gabe Chiddy placed fourth in the triple jump, Kate Davis also took fourth in the Class high jump and Helen Hunsinger finished sixth in 1,000-meter run for the Blue Devils.

Blue Devils will be strong in the sprinting and hurdling division, but with only one thrower and one distance runner, the year could have it's bumps in the road.

For Moravia the expectations are there for a young team and they are very enthusiastic and feel confident with each other.

Skaneateles Lakers

Coach: Rob Tuttle

In a 12-team division, including Westhill and Cazenovia, the Lakers look to have guidance from Kelsey Eshleman, Christy Barnett, Victoria Sakal, Julie Dmochowski, Alexas Mazzeo and Beatrice Walton. The Lakers have faith that they can keep up with the top teams in the league.

Eshleman will run in the middle distance along with Barnett, Dmochowski, and newcomer Eileen Ford.

Barnett also will participate in the hurdles, Sakal runs in the sprinters and Dmochowski, along with middle distance events, will participate in the jumping events.

Mazzeo will focus solely on distance, along with Walton and newcomer Elizabeth Cooper.

With the loss of Hannah Waite, Alyssa Weidor and Rachel Vaivoda, the Lakers have big gaps to fill this year. Waite ran in the distance events and was usually a top runner in the small schools. Weidor holds a school record in the long jumps and was a sprinter on top of that. Vaivoda was also a top distance runner.

Mid-distance will be a strength for the Lakers this season, however.

“Most of our girls will run in the 400, 600, or 800-meter events.” Tuttle said.

He also expects the girls to be very competitive to compete in every event.

Tuttle is hopeful that they will compete for the league and Section III, Class C titles.

Union Spring Wolves

Coach: Mark Gaffney

With just two athletes on the team, the Wolves won't be competing in any relays this season, or for any team wins. But two freshman runners Sarah Norton and Alex Slywka have more than enough desire to try in their respective events.

“They have a lot of heart and are very good kids,” Gaffney said.

Norton will run the distance and Slywka will participate in the sprints.

The team of two will concentrate on setting individual goals.

Each will have look to improve and get better for the outdoor season.

The Citizens' Say

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There are 1 comment(s)

AuburnDan wrote on Dec 10, 2007 9:44 AM:

" Perhaps this was simply an oversight But Coach Hernandez has a long distance champion on his team too! Liz Mahoney will be running this season on the indoor team. Liz raked 1st for the team and in the top 40 in the district for cross country and I am sure that speed and success will translate well onto the indoor circuit Good Luck Liz and to the rest of the Auburn team. "

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