Holy Innocents' Track Team Solid in Season Opener

The Holy Innocents’ track team made its 2016 debut Saturday at the Birmingham Crossplex in Alabama, and, when the day was done, Coach Stephen Jayaraj left the building a happy man.

“We are so far ahead of where we were this time last year,” Jayaraj said. “We’ve got more than plenty of depth in the 400, which should help our relays, plus we had some good showings (today) in the 1,600 as well. It was only our opener, but it’s hard not for me to feel good right now.”

Chelsea Zoller got things going on a strong note – the senior finished first in the 400-meter run in the Class A through 5A category with a time of 56.87.

“The first 200 (meters) felt good,” Zoller said. “In the last 150, I got a little boxed in which mixed up my strategy somewhat. Still, I’m ahead of where I was last year and my goal (today) was 58, so I feel all went okay.”

Parke Faison won her heat in the 400 and took 10th overall. “That was her fastest finish in a Holy Innocents’ uniform,” Jayaraj said of Faison’s 1:02.4.

Braxton Lindley got the boys off to a great start, finishing third in the A through 5A slate with a 50.18 in the 400. Jayaraj’s depth in the quarter was evident after that, as Zach Henry, Jackson Pellegrini, Tolbert Nance, Stokes Henry and Blake Ainsworth also had good showings.

Zach Henry led the rest of the 400 pack with a 53:53, Pellegrini finished in 57:00, Stokes Henry in 58.42, Nance ran a 58.82 and Ainsworth turn in a 1:00.68.

The Running Bears had three entered in the 1,600. Ileana Zeissner, Bryn Foster and Zain Bashey. Zeissner and Foster worked together in their race - Zeissner finished in 5:48 and Foster in 5:50.

“That put Ileana 16 seconds ahead of last year and Bryn did well also, especially considering this was her first mile since seventh grade,” Jayaraj added.

Bashey also ran well in the 1,600 – the junior turned in a 5:09.77 and ran even splits in the process.

Looking ahead, HI will be in action again Feb. 20th at Marietta and Feb. 24th at Marist.