Girls Track Team Poised For Big Season

It was one year ago when the Cranford girls varsity track team captured their first-ever state sectional and county championships. Now, with the sweet taste of success comes the higher expectations, and the Lady Cougars are more than ready to take on the challenges ahead.

"We always set our expectations pretty high," said girls coach Peter Kane. "We finished second in the Group 2 state championship meet last year so it's up there on our list. The girls were disappointed taking second. They've tasted some success, they like the taste and they want to go back after it."

Kane has a record number of athletes ready to perform at high levels, including the recently-named Union County winter track Athlete of the Year, Natalie Englese, as well as Notre Dame-bound Kelly Burke.

"We have the same people up top from the indoor season," Kane said. "We have Natalie Englese up top for our sprints, we have Kelly Burke with our jumps and hurdles, sophomores are Kate Evans, Rebecca Shiminoff, Gillian Burke, and Megan Byrnes and we've got freshman Bryanna Grant. And of course we have Bridget Miller in long-distance events.

Kane not only counts on the top athletes, but everyone else plays a key role in garnering points at each meet.

"It looks pretty good right now," said Kane. "We've got a lot of kids coming out, a lot of kids working hard. Probably the hardest working group we've had come out so far, great attendance and we're looking to spread people out. I think this year we have a little more depth in all of our events to score more points in our county and state meets.  

He is looking to find that next diamond in the rough.

"I think what the spring offers us is more depth from the freshmen and sophomores that are coming up and are still going to score points in events like javelin and triple jump and hurdles and high jump."

Kane has a talented group of sophomores, who continue to improve with every season. And they're excited about their potential.

"It's going good," said sophomore Evans, who will be running the 400 meter dash. "I know the whole team is really confident about everything and the coaches are really excited about how we're going to do this season. We did really good in the winter, so they're excited for the spring season."

Evans will also get a chance to test out other events this spring.

"I know Coach Kane wants to try me in a bunch of different events," she said. "I'm excited for that, to try new things. Last spring I did well in the 400. I went to Penn Relays and made it to Groups. The winter wasn't as good but now I'm really excited for the spring."

Another star in the making is the versatile long-distance runner Miller, who runs the 1600, the 3200 and at times, the 800.

"Training is going really well," said Miller, who began her track career in seventh grade. "All the girls are working really hard. We have our first scrimmage on Thursday so we'll see how we run and what our events are."

Miller can thank her middle school coach for giving her the encouragement she needed to take up a new sport.

"My one coach, Miss Fontana, she told me I looked like a runner so I should try out, so I did and I stuck with it, thanks to her," said Miller. "I love it. I like doing it. I really got involved when I was in high school. I got really devoted, and I liked it even more."

And everyone should keep a close eye on another sophomore, Byrnes, who also runs the long-distance events of 3200 and 1600.

"It's been going really well," Byrnes said. "We have a lot of new girls and everyone's working really hard towards the season. We're a competitive group of girls but we're having a good time and everyone's encouraging each other and cheering each other on."

Their training consists of endurance runs around Cranford, and they'll often do sprints at the track.

"We really don't have that many new people," said Evans. "Everyone we have is really confident and really excited about this season. We're always encouraging each other to do better and we're all just like best friends. It's great."

The focus will be on winning even more championships, because once you get to the top, you definitely want to go back.

"That was an unbelievable feeling, winning the state sectional for the first time in school history, first time for the counties," said Kane. "We didn't expect it. We thought we could achieve it. The girls believed us and they went after it. Again, I don't think that we expect it. If you expect things, you're going to usually fail at them. We're looking forward to driving towards it. And hopefully we'll have the same interview next year."