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Magdalena Myslenski. Photo by Marc Allard.
Quality over quantity. The Woodstock Academy girls’ track team is certainly not equal to the likes of East Lyme and Norwich Free Academy when it comes to numbers.
But the talent is certainly there. The Centaurs finished third in Div. I of the ECC last season and were seventh in the Class MM state championship.
The team only lost four performers from that squad.
“We might be able to do even a little better. It depends on a few pieces coming together tt,” said coach Josh Welch.
It will be about a month from when outdoor track started to when the Centaurs finally get on the track to compete against East Lyme on April 19.
Welch and his fellow coaches are planning to put together an intrasquad competition to not only replace the lack of competition but to also simulate a meet atmosphere prior to actually taking part in one.
Among the talented individuals on the squad are seniors Bella Sorrentino and Magdalena Myslenski. Myslenski qualified for the Nationals in discus a year ago and finished 11th in her division.
“That was for Emerging Elite and this time I’m hoping to the 130-foot mark and I feel like it’s coming soon so maybe a little higher than (Emerging Elite), who knows,” she said.
Welch feels that Myslenski has a good chance to make championship level at Nationals this season.
“Bella will almost certainly make it in the hurdles and both likely will take down some school records. Jill Edwards, if I can get her to be more consistent, is an ECC championship level high jumper. Juliet Allard will probably own the ECC and be up there in States in the 300-meter hurdles,” Welch said.
In addition, Talia Tremblay is starting to bring her 400-meter times back to where they were a year ago which could put her in the ECC championship discussion. Tremblay is also a solid 200-meter performer.
Add to that some strong distance runners in seniors Lauren Brule and Sydney Lord, junior Julia Coyle, sophomore Kira Greene, and freshman Olivia Tracy.
Bella Sorrentino is not only strong in hurdles but also in jumps and throws and her impact is important for another reason. Her willingness to attempt and succeed at different events.
Welch also has some younger athletes like sophomores Allard, Mia Sorrentino and freshmen Kadence Foster and Emma Weitknecht that he will be looking for development from over the course of the season.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy