Briarcliff HS Track: Bears Make Leaps and Bounds

One might think of track and field as an individualized sport mixed with team elements, but in fact, competition does require teamwork for advancement of a program.

This has been especially true for the Bears' track and field team, which has made leaps and bounds in recent years to become one of the significant sports in the school's history—and in particular—this season.

“By any measure, the Briarcliff High School Track and Field Team have had a TERRIFIC season,” Head Coach Sean Ryan said in an email. “The team is four times the size it was just four years ago and now stands as the largest of Briarcliff’s athletic teams.”

He added, “Another measure of success is how this team is rewriting the school record board. Five school records have been broken this year (so far).”

While interest and size matter, the breaking of records are just as prominent especially for the Bears who set five new school records, exceeding some as old as 22-24 years.

Senior Victoria Trentini was successful in breaking the school Javelin record three times which now stands at 87’ 10.” Although Trentini will be graduating in the coming weeks, other Bears competitors will be sure to fill her void.

“Expect it to be broken again,” Ryan said.

Junior Harry Zimmerman was stellar in the league championship breaking the 22 year old record school record in the high jump with a leap of 6’ 2 ¼.”

The quartet of junior Rebecca Bianco, sophomore Madeline Zimmerman, freshmen Sophie Feuer, and Lauren Miller who have been attacking the school record board little by little this season broke two relay records setting the distance medley relay record in a time of 14:03.8 at the Croton Girl’s Relays.

The Bears young up and coming backbone then surpassed the 24 year old record in the 4x400 meter relay in 4:16.63 at the 44th Annual Glenn D. Loucks Games at White Plains High School—nearly two seconds off the original 4:18.0, set in 1987.

The team of Rebecca Bianco, Madeline Zimmerman, freshmen Lianna Gangi, Sharon Luan also made new strides at the Somer’s Lions Club Invitational with a time of 4:36.5 in the sprint medley relay.

Dual meet competition saw the Briarcliff Boy’s Team end the 2011 campaign an undefeated 7-0 along with a league championship by scoring 206.5 points and earning first place in 13 of the 17 contested events.

“The girl’s team was also strong finishing the dual meet season 6-1,” Ryan said. “It is a dramatic improvement over last year, and a strong second place tie in the league championship.”

While Ryan anticipated many great races would be ran this past season, optimism for the future is also very bright.

“Expect the team to continue improving this year and over the next few years as the team is loaded with talent and youth,” he said.