10 degree temperatures, 40 mile-per-hour headwinds and inches of snow were not abnormal this winter. However, despite the rough conditions, the girls track team could almost always be found at Kehler Stadium practicing, no matter how rough the weather became. Their motivation throughout the season and their determination to succeed was a major contributor as to why their season was so successful, and why they were able to make history.
The girls historic season began at Yale University on Jan. 10 and Jan. 11, where they were able to get a feel of the competition that the Northeast had to offer. Despite encountering some of the best athletes in the region, Westfield was able to place some girls high in the rankings. In the mile race, senior Anna Kylish captured ninth with a time of 5:20.42 and senior Lilly Petrie captured seventh in the 55 meter hurdles with a time of 8.63.
At the Union County Championships meet, Westfield was awarded fourth in a highly competitive field. In the 800-meter race, senior Olivia Thornton and junior Claire Sewald captured times of 2:28 and 2:29 respectively. Petrie and freshman phenom Lidia Wright clocked times of 8.86 and 8.88 for a fourth and fifth-place finish. On the field side, seniors Ashley Cunningham (34-3.75) and Livia Reyes (32-0.25) captured second and fifth place in the girls shot put followed by a school record from Morgan Samet in the long jump with a mark of 15-7.25.
After a great meet at the county championships, their dreams of winning the first sectional title in school history were coming into focus. Led by sectional champions Kylish in the 800 meter and Kyra Lentzner in the pole vault, Westfield destroyed the section by 28 points over second-place finisher Elizabeth. “[The girls] competed at such a high level. It was great to see them win in such a commanding fashion,” said head coach Joseph Berardi. However, the championship would have never been won without a total team effort including a second-place finish from Kylish in the 1600 meter, a second-place finish from sophomore Anna Youssef in the 3200, a second-place finish from Livia Reyes in the Shot Put and a second-place finish from Wright in the high jump. Although Kylish had amazing individual efforts, she credited her teammates for her performance, stating how, “I couldn’t have done it without the amazing support and cheering from [my] teammates.”
In the Group 4 Championships on Feb. 23, Kylish punched her ticket to the Meet of Champions with a fourth-place finish in the 800 meter with a time of 2:19.70. Westfield also secured two wildcard spots from Petrie in the 55-meter hurdles (8.62) and Wright in the high jump (5-0).
At the Meet of Champions, which consists of all of the top runners in the state, Westfield showed an all-around great performance from all of their athletes. In the 4X800 meter relay consisting of Vanessa Larkin, Thornton, Sewald and Youssef, they placed 16th in the state amongst many great relay teams. Wright jumped to 5’2 in the high jump and Petrie captured 8.57 in the 55-meter hurdles. Although the season was coming to an end, Kylish continued her historic run and qualified for New Balance Nationals in the 800-meter run with a season-best time of 2:16.55. At the New Balance Nationals, Kylish placed 116th in the country with a time of 2:18.11.
Although Westfield had many great moments, the sectional title remains one of their most valued and highest accomplishments. “I think it’s incredible that we were able to win [Sectionals] for the first time in school history,” said Larkin. “It just shows the strength of our team and our relentless hard work.”
Going into the spring season, the girls hope to keep their momentum and hopefully capture the second spring track title in a row.
