By Nydia Ramos, News Editor
While the true test of a team’s talent may come down the stretch of a season, Indian Trail High School & Academy’s 2018 track season has gone well so far.
“Both the boys and girls teams are enjoying outstanding seasons statistically,” said IT Track Coach Brian Vanderhoef.
At press time, the girls record was 53-15 with a .779 winning percentage, while the boys was 55-12 with a .820 winning percentage.
But the real test will be conference, regional, sectional and the state championships, Vanderhoef said.
So far, they are on the right track. On May 8, IT’s Girls Track and Field Team winning the Kenosha County Championship. Several athletes also took home individual titles that night, including junior Jaylen Grant, 100-meter dash; sophomore Amariyon Lynch, freshmen Kameron Lee and Clayton Bishop, and sophomore Devin Rose in the 4×100-meter relay; and sophomore Molly Balch, Yesenia Hernandez, sophomore Larissa Zimmerman, and sophomore Kate Clady in the 4×800-meter relay.
Senior Madison Taylor won the 1,600-meter-run and the 800-meter run, while junior Alicia Jones set new county records in the long jump and triple jump.
Freshman Simone Carmickle and juniors Jayda Grant, Rachel Castelli and Jones also set a new country record in the 4×100-meter.
Another season highlight included the boys and girls winning the Indoor County Championships in late March and team titles at the Cougar Relays on April 25.
The team also performed well at the Wisconsin Track & Field Association indoor meet April 8. IT junior Jaylen Grant came in fifth in the 55-meter dash; Jones came in fifth in the long jump and triple jump; Taylor placed third in the 1600-meter run; and Grant, senior Dan Jones, junior Ethan Krueger, and Rose took fourth in the boys 4×200-meter relay.
“We are a very talented team,” Vanderhoef said, when asked to identify any standout players. “Too many to count.”
The biggest challenge this year has been managing such a large team.
“Although we always lose athletes as the season progresses, we start with over 150 athletes on the team,” he said. “Finding an event that suits them and coaching that amount is quite a task.”
Another challenge is trying to keep all those athletes healthy for the duration of the season.
To his seniors, Vanderhoef had a special farewell message:
“It has been a pleasure working with you over the last three or four years. We hope our program has taught you a few life lessons that you can use for the rest of your life,” he said. “Don’t be a stranger. Life will more than likely take you in a different path, but you are always welcome as part of our Indian Trail track and field team.”