Track season gets rolling

ANDOVER TOWNSHIP — The normal wide swings of weather are in full effect as area track programs start the spring season in earnest.

Many teams got their feet wet the last two weeks at the Perry Relays and the Ron Weaver Laker Invitational.

Programs are experiencing growth in the number of participants as the coronavirus pandemic is further in the rearview mirror.

“We are really young but super dedicated,” said new Conneaut head girls track coach Jason Dalton. He said there are 42 girls participating this year, with a strong crew in the middle distance.

The Spartans got on the scoreboard quick Saturday, getting a second place in the 4x800 meter relay and sophomore Macey McBride winning the 400 meters by more than three seconds, in a time of 1:01 at the Ron Weaver Laker Invitational.

On the boys side in Conneaut, coach Tyler Pew said his team is also very young, but has 40 competitors.

“We are the biggest we’ve been in a long time,” he said.

He said 75% of the team are freshmen and sophomores, but there are some bright spots, with strong performances with Carrick Dobran in the pole vault and Hamilton Spero in the 800 and 1600 meters.

Pew said the football and basketball coaching staffs were instrumental in getting more players out.

“If we get the kids faster, they will be better in football and basketball,” he said.

Edgewood girls track coach Steve Hill said his squad has about 30 members.

“We have a lot of young [athletes],” he said. Maddie Crooks won the 800 meters by three seconds with a time of 2:30 Saturday in Andover Township.

Hill said Morgan Haywood beat the school record by jumping 9’6” in the pole vault.

“She has been working hard,” he said.

Geneva head girls coach Anna Haesler said it has been a good transition as she took over the girls program from Dalton. She has the opportunity to coach her daughter, Ella, in the throws, and Addy Reece in the mid-distance.

Allison Sochia finished second in the 100-meter dash Saturday.

Haesler said boys head coach Emily Long has made for an easy transition with her knowledge of the sport and leadership.

Long said there are 63 boys and 48 girls participating in Geneva’s program this year. She said they are trying to work out ways to get some of the younger athletes into competitions for the future, as there are 20 senior boys competing.

“I think we have a good mix,” she said.

Don Shymske won the 400 meter run at the Laker and participated in several relays as well.

Jefferson head girls coach T.J. Furman said his squad is down a bit, numbers-wise, this season.

“We have a bunch of young kids,” he said. “It is going to be a growing year.”

Freshman Cody Weber got the Falcons distance crew off to a huge start, winning the 3200 meters in a time of 9:58 Saturday, with Logan Furman coming in seventh, with a time of 11:13.

Jefferson head girls coach Andrew Preston said his team has 25 girls, which is nine more than when he took over the program after the coronavirus pandemic.

He said Bella Boyd and Gabby Talley are making big strides in the spring.

“They are very competitive,” he said.

Preston said Abby Feick is doing well, and sophomore Emma Phillips is expected to do well in the distance races.

Edgewood boys track coach Jim Sanchez said he enjoys opening with the Perry Relays, where he is able to get a good look at his team. He said his team is in the 50 competitor range.

He said Robert Knox is doing well in the 400 and 800 meter runs and senior Ben Schwartfigure has been providing excellent leadership.

“These kids are always striving,” he said.

The Lakers were excited to reinstitute their invitational and test out their new timing system, Pymatuning Valley girls head coach Annie Siembor said. “It was great to ...

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