By Gabriel Ouzounian
Review Co-Editor
The girls may not have won their meet against Oxford April 18, but the lady dragons showed their determination by breaking records – personal and school wide.
The season is still early for the dragons and head coach Sjonne Mitchell believes the girls continue to improve and progress.
‘It was the closest loss we’ve had this season,? said Head Coach Sjonne Mitchell. ‘For some reason it was the best we’ve performed all year. The girls really wanted to win. It was weird losing and being upbeat about the meet and it gave me good insight for the rest of the season.?
Mitchell continues to make changes as necessary to her young team and said she can see how much better the team will get as the season progresses. She added it’s all a matter of ‘piecing it together.?
Sophomore Madeline Martindale bested her old record and the previous school record in the pole vault, hurling herself nearly ten feet into the air. In the third official meet of the season, that number is nearly state qualifying as well, a fact Mitchell was quick to point out. She also mentioned thanks to new Pole Vault Coach Adam Russell who ‘knows what he’s doing.?
Other notable performances include junior Patty Babich who took third in the 1,600m run, senior Katie Grantham who won the long jump with a distance of 14? 10?, and sophomore Corey Flanders who won the 100m low hurdle who according to Mitchell ‘just wants to win.?
She’s matured a lot more this year than last year and she’s coming into her own,? said Mitchell. ‘Grantham has been a great leader this year and is finding her own confidence this season as well.?
From the distance side of the girl’s track team, Assistant Coach Debi McDonald said the girls simply got ‘out-laned? in the long races. She pointed out senior Abby Ernatt, who broke her personal record on the 3,200m run with a time of 12:53 while senior Brittini Burton broke her’s with a time of 12:54. McDonald noted the times were not stellar for the OAA but said it was great for the two girls.
McDonald believes the two will continue to improve greatly as the season continues.
Other notable performances include junior Molly Emerich who ran the 400m in 64 seconds and the hurdle team who swept the 110m high hurdles.
The next meat was on Tuesday against Stoney Creek. Mitch said the team was usually not faced until Regionals, but due to change in the OAA leagues – which seeks to get the students out at an earlier time by basing the structure on proximity instead of size – Orion would face them as a regular opponent.