The Bernards Winter Track team kicked off last weekend with the State Relays in Toms River. There were several teams competing in what is nicknamed “the dome” for its rounded shape. Junior Connor Tamke, a high jumper on the team, was partnered with fellow junior Dan Meyers. Connor and Dan were paired in the high jump relay and both did very well, Tamkee had a shaky start with his first approach of five feet two inches but made his way to five feet eight inches which is now his new personal record. On the girls side of high jump, senior Abby Lotwick was accompanied by Zasha Wojtech. The boys four by eight hundred team of Richard and Stuart Gruters, Conner Roehr, and Quentin Kelley all medaled for Bernards on Saturday.
Overall, the team has had some surprising skills that have been discovered in many athletes up to this point in the season. Francesca Porambo, a sophomore, being one of the athletes, early on in the season she was placed as Kotwicks partner for high jump and impressed everyone with her jump height of four feet ten inches. Another star in the spotlight is sophomore Emma Bowerbank, who is wicked fast at hurdles, the fifty five, and the four hundred meter sprints. The team has started to shape up and the oncoming meets will decide who will at sectionals. With the weather not as cold as usual for this time of year the training for winter track has been more intense and effective.
Coaches Mr. Lachac and Mrs. Morris’s training has certainly paid off so far this season with all the personal records and all the medals won especially by the boys distance team. Lachac has certainly delivered with his unique ways of doing core that have certainly helped the athletes. With only a few more meets until the season comes to an end the athletes are giving it everything they’ve got in every race to try and make a spot on the sectionals list and the meets to come after that. With the huge snow storm on the way everyone is hoping the meet this saturday will not get canceled so that the athletes will have every possible chance to race as the season is dwindling down to an end. There is still much room for improvement in times, heights, and distances.
