MHS' Boys Track Team Points Toward Cross Country

Mamaroneck, like every other athletic team, began its indoor track & field season with the hope of winning league, county and sectional titles.

But track's different.

Unlike cross country, it doesn't favor the small team with a plethora of distance runners; it gives preference to the larger team with athletes scattered throughout most events. So the Mamaroneck boys knew ahead of time it would be a tough season – the Tigers placed fifth in the league and failed to score at the county and Class A meets.

 "Traditionally, we're a team that lacks sprinters, which makes it tough to compete in the winter and spring," Mamaroneck coach Robert Morrissey said. "We have success in the mid-distance and distance events, but it's a tough transition from the fall where we have a good cross country team."

The cross country season is where Mamaroneck focuses the majority of its attention. After placing fourth at the Class AA meet this past fall, Morrissey believes this is one of the better teams he's coached.

"I'm very excited about next year," Morrissey said. "I've been coaching at Mamaroneck for over 20 years and I've never had a team as talented as this."

The Tigers therefore use the indoor season as more of a chance to train and prepare for cross country, while trying to improve their individual times.

Even though the team may not be in contention during the winter, there's still plenty of talent on the roster. Senior Hugh Troeger was an all-league selection running a new personal best of four minutes, 38.80 seconds in the 1,600 meter run at the Class A meet.

Junior David Marsico has steadily improved in the 1,000, while sophomore Thaddeus Sheehan has shown promise in the 1,600.

"Compared to girls, boys take longer to reach their potential," Morrissey said. "There's more time for them to improve and become seasoned."

Mamaroneck also has to compete during the indoor season without its top distance runner – Tommy Vandenberg. The junior takes the winter off to play basketball for the Tigers.

 While Mamaroneck still goes out and competes during the winter and spring, there's one season that has the Tigers undivided attention – cross country.

"As a team, we're really focused toward the fall," Morrissey said. "During the winter and spring we try and focus on getting different individuals to develop and improve. But, realistically, we understand how difficult it is to compete in track. We just try to focus on developing our mid-distance and distance runners, and make sure we're prepared for cross country in the fall."