Anson breaks school record to lead Spalding Girls Track Team

(Landover, MD)— Sophomore Caitlin Anson has been absolutely on fire to begin the 2010-11 Indoor Track & Field season for Archbishop Spalding and continued her successful season on Friday night at the Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex by breaking the school record of 2:33.23 set last year by Molly Miller and Sam Dennis, establishing the new mark of 2:32.02.

Defending IAAM indoor champions, McDonogh, won the meet with 113 points, followed by Spalding (79), John Carroll (74.5), Maryvale Prep (65.5), Mt. de Sales (50), Notre Dame Prep (46.5), Roland Park (38.5), Seton Keough (32), Bryn Mawr (23), Catholic (20), Mercy (20), Key School (17), and St. Johns (3).

Anson also combined with freshman Kelly Wells, senior Dani Beard and junior Kelsey Bonner to anchor the third place 4x400m relay team with the school's third best mark of 4:28.31.

After three meets, Anson leads the team in points earned (22.75), holds two school records (800m dash, and Sprint Medley Relay) and ranks fourth all-time for 500-meters (1:26.21) and fifth best for 1600-meters (5:45.04).

Beard's fourth place finish in the 500-meter dash in 1:26.18 actually dropped Anson down a spot on the all-time rankings list, remarkable since it was Beard's first foray into the event. Wells was equally impressive in her 500m debut, placing sixth overall in 1:26.62.

Junior Emily Chaundy took fourth in the 1600m run in 5:41.94 (third best in Spalding history), followed by classmate Elisa Heacock in sixth (5:47.12).

It was freshman Alie Kamm that improved most dramatically. Her second place finish in the 3200m run of 12:17.27 was fourth best in school history and a whopping one-minute and three second improvement on the year.  Junior Cara McNellis finished third in 12:37.15, also a huge personal best.

The 4x200m relay of Wells, senior Michelle Boivin, junior Melissa Manikas and Beard narrowly missed the school record of 1:55.34, finishing second to McDonogh (1:54.01) in 1:55.41.

Senior Courtney Doran tied for first in the high jump (4-10) and also placed seventh in the long jump to lead the team in points (11). Boivin placed third in the triple jump, while junior Nikki Boretti placed fourth in the 800m dash (2:35.0)

Senior Samantha Ballard finished ninth in the 55m hurdles in an IAAM championship qualifying mark of 10.76 seconds. 

The 79-points scored was the most in school history at any league meet and has the team confident of a top-two finish at the championship meet on Feb. 4, 2011.

Over the last two years, Spalding has broken seven indoor school records at established 33 top-five performances.

Author Brian Funk is the Girls Indoor Track Coach for Archbishop Spalding, in addition to being a sports writer and fitness columnist for Severn Patch.