Kirtland’s girls’ track team returns several key athletes from last year and with an influx of newcomers, the Hornets are ready to build off of the success they enjoyed in 2021.
“We are very excited to compete in 2022,” said 17th-year head coach J.P. Moran. “We have a nice group of senior and junior leadership with a great deal of experience and we have some new freshmen and sophomores that we truly believe will be large contributors to our team.”
Kirtland’s returning regional qualifiers include seniors Maria Alfieri, Reilly Greenlee, and Sophia DeMarco, and junior Delaney Kuczkowski.
Alfieri qualified for the regional meet in the 100-meter hurdles. Greenlee placed 10th in the 1600-meter run, and Kuczkowski was 13th in the 800.
DeMarco, Kuczkowski, and Greenlee combined with graduated senior Julie Namciu to place 12th in the 4×800-meter run.
“We had a nice group of regional qualifiers last season and we only lost one girl from that group,” Moran said. “As for being competitive in our conference, we believe we have a nice well-rounded roster and will be able to fill the event spots better than last season.”
Alfieri also will compete in the long jump and sprints.
Kirtland’s sprinters include seniors Elin Conner, Macy McIntosh, Payton VanArnhem, and Alyssa Bryll, juniors Ava Golem and Marissa Carmosino, sophomores Myah Drazetic, Maia Raguz, Carmela Kovach, Lucy Heller, Paige Dolovacky, and Isabel Baldwin, and freshmen Kara Hill and Elise Beinhardt.
Carmosino also will compete in the long jump and Golem will run the hurdles and compete in the high jump. Heller also will provide depth in the middle distance events.
Kirtiland’s middle and distance runners include junior Josie Copeland, sophomores Jessy Jackson, Olivia Dolovacky, and Brynn Bradac, and freshmen Sylvia Vosicky and Ainsley Borthwick.
Competing in the throws for the Hornets are juniors Chloe Ungrady, Lidia Ingram, and Sydney Jeavons, sophomores Bella Caringi, Kasia Balcerski, and Ava DiFranco, and freshmen Devon Haymer, Chloe Hansen, Sydnie Sullivan, and Kennedy Boyd.
Boyd also will compete in the jumping events and junior Corinne Greenlee will showcase her athleticism in the high jump and pole vault.
Kirtland has a lot of new faces in the lineup but gaining experience isn’t the biggest problem the Hornets face this spring.
Due to stadium construction, the Hornets won’t host any home meets this spring and their practice time is limited.
“Our track and stadium are scheduled to be under construction so all of our meets are away this season,” Moran said. “This will add a challenge to find places for our field events to practice and hone their crafts.”
