Princeton High Girls' Track off to 1-2 Start

Princeton High School girls' track team has not competed much in April- the first month of the season- due to the rain and recent school break. 

The team finished the first month with a 1-2 record and a productive appearance in the Mercer County Relays.

The highlight of the season so far is Princeton's Rebekka Vuojolainen and Mary Kennedy-Moore, who combined to win the pole vault at the Mercer Relays on Apr. 16.

"Our pole vault team is solid," said Coach Jim Smirk, adding that the two girls have a chance to place when the sectional and state meets are held later this season.

Princeton also has solid distance runners. Jenna Cody, Maggie Sowa, Chrissy Glover and Elyssa Gensib combined to place third in the distance medley. The 4x1600 team of Gensib, Cody, Sowa and Ameila Whaley also was third at the Mercer Relays.

"We have some talented distance runners," Smirk said. "The big thing for us is we would like to qualify someone in the mile or two mile for states. We'd like to take that step forward."

Madeline Lea and Vuojolainen placed third in the triple jump. The sprint medley team of Lea, Maura Bierl, Glover and Victoria Barquin also was third in the Mercer event.

In the regular seaosn, Princeton defeated Hamilton, 79-65, on April 20 for its lone win of the season.

"That meet came over spring break and both teams were kind of depleted," Smirk said. "We won because the girls we had did a better job of filling in at events they never competed in before."

Princeton also won because of its distance runners. The team swept the 800, 1600 and 3200. Whaley and Gensib took the top two spots in all three events.

Princeton was defeated by Hightstown, 73-67, on April 25.

Glover, Sowa and Rachel Bergman swept the 800. Gensib and Jenna Cody took the top two spots in the 1600.

Vuojolainen and Kennedy-Moore took the top two spots in the pole vault, each clearing 8' 6". Vuojolainen also won the triple jump.

Lea and Addison Hebert took the top two spots in the high jump with a height of 4' 3".

Jacques Bazile placed second in the shot and third in the discus.

"We were a little rusty after the break," Smirk said. "Give Hightstown credit. They did what they had to do in order to win the meet."

Princeton will compete at Lawrenceville on Saturday and continue to get in shape for the big meets down the line, including the Mercer County Tournament on May 15.

"We have a little less experience than we have had in the past," Smirk said. "We do have some talented girls. We're looking to take some big strides forward."