BY SOPHIA GARRIHY
The winter track team has a big season ahead. For the many seniors returning to the team this year, this season’s races will conclude their high school running career.
As the season approaches, a lot of things have changed regarding the runners. “Last year, overall, we were a very young but potential-filled team. Last year planted a seed in us, so we can thrive this season with not just faster times, but leadership,” said senior Jack O’Brady. “We are coming for it all this season and cannot wait to start,”
Runners have different perspectives on the changes this season brings. “As a team, I feel like this year we are all so much more like a family,” said junior Madeline Szakielo. “We have all pushed each other in-season and encouraged [each other] to keep going even when we do not feel like it.”
To prepare for this season, the runners have taken part in a variety of training methods. “It consists of strength training, long distance training, speed endurance, and lactic acid endurance,” said senior Muhammad Ziyad. “We usually do 12×200 meters with 100 meters walking the rest 8×400 meters with 90 seconds rest on the bleachers. For speed, we do 150-meter pick-ups, all out 60 meters, 30-meter sprint, and 20-meter sprint. In the weight room, we do power cleans, dead lift, squat, bench, press box jumps, wall-sits, etc.”
Aside from spending time in the weight room to train, working alongside the cross-country team helped most sprinters prepare. “The sprinters have shown up to cross country practices in the summer and during the cross-country season to stay in shape,” explained senior Ronald Ciacia.
Every member of the team has different goals for themselves and the team. “As for the team, we would love to PR in our events, and we would like to place at GMCs,” said senior Danielle Boateng. “As for me, I would like to strive to continue to get stronger and keep breaking records.”
Matthew Tiplady, Robert Wunder, Michelle Arenella, and Dawn Koczon primarily coach the girls team, and Scott Beverly, James Phillps, Christopher LoNigro, and Robert Weiss work mostly with the boys. “[I want to] to reach my goals in the 400 meter and 800 meter this year, but my biggest goal is to make my coach, Tiplady, happy, as he has been really supportive of me all fall training,” said junior Elias Melara.
Alongside having goals to place well or impress the coach, most runners hope to set new personal records. “I want to go under 4:30 in the mile, under 2:00 in the 800, and under 10 minutes in the 3200. For outdoor, I want to go under 4:20 in the mile, under 1:58 in the 800, and under 9:40 in the 3200,” said Daniel McFarland. “Based on how my cross-country season went, I think it’s reasonable to say I can hit these goals.”
The team features many seniors looking to build on their previous success this season. “My PRs are 5:09 for the 1600 and 2:17 for the 800! My 1600 was achieved my sophomore season, and my 800 was junior year,” said senior Victoria Botte.
While most important meets of the year do not occur until January or February, the team starts the competition season on December 13 at the Demarest Invitational.
Posted on December 10, 2025
Photos by Lors Photography
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