This season, track is looking to start off on the right foot (pun intended).
Sprinter coach Stephanie Hawkins has high hopes for the girls this year stating, “I hope to win several of our dual meets and hopefully bring home a couple wins from invitationals.”
Hawkins is preparing the girls for a successful season. Hawkins mentions, “I expect that we are going to have a lot of girls who learn the basics of track who are going to get faster as they learn to improve their technique.”
Senior Brittany Johnson is gearing up for her third year of track. “I expect to do better than I did last year and I hope to make it to state this year.” Johnson’s events include the 100, the 200 and the 4 by 1.
Newcomer Brad Minor sets the bar high for his first season as a Puma track coach. “Overall for jumping perspective, I think the jumpers have a lot of talent,” says Minor, “We have some seniors and some good young talent as well.”
On Feb. 28, the team had their first meet of the season against Campo Verde High School. Although Campo Verde won, Perry came in close with some outstanding runners, jumpers and throwers.
Johnson came in first for Perry in the 100 yard sprint with a time of 13:34 seconds. Sophomore Emily Romer, coming in at 66:40 seconds, won the 400 meter dash. Following Romer was Junior Riem Kidane with a time of 69:84 seconds.
New to hurdling, senior Sarah Sutorka took second place in the 300 meter hurdles with a time of 54 seconds.
The Perry 4×4 team crushed the opposing Campo Coyotes. The team consisted of Emily Romer, Bridgette Torgerson, Marissa Langerhorst, and Marisa Costagliola.
Johnson also adds, “Even though it is an individual sport because you are always trying to beat your own time, you still have the team type mentality so you still get close to everyone on the team.”
Both the coaches and the athletes are anticipating some great performances and a closely-knit group to be formed.
