- November 26, 2024
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In Matanzas’ sixth year of track and field, coach James Wolfe hopes his teams can be state contenders.
The Matanzas track-and-field team has slowly improved each season. Now, in the sixth season, coach James Wolfe hopes his team can be competitive at the Class 2A state meet.
Both the boys and girls teams won District 5-2A last season. It was the first time the girls team won and the first time the teams swept the district. The boys team took third place at the regional meet. Wolfe said this year is all about being competitive at all three phases.
Both the boys and the girls have a great mix of younger, competitive runners and older, more experienced runners who provide leadership, Wolfe said.
Loder leads crop of young girls
The girls team is led by sophomore Hannah Loder. Loder was a state qualifier in the 1,600-meter run last season. She was joined by Christina Marcano, who qualified for the state meet after winning the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 at the district tournament. Marcano is no longer with the team because of personal reasons, and Wolfe said that’s a huge loss. Marcano was responsible for 30 points at the district meet last season.
The bright side, Wolfe said, is that Loder took second place to Marcano in all three races.
So far this season, Loder has been the class of the district. She will be competing for a district title and a berth at the state meet in the 800 and 1,600 meters. Wolfe said she has run the 1,600 in 5 minutes, 24 seconds and the 800-meter run in 2:28 so far this season.
“She’s very consistent in her training,” Wolfe said. “She’s a little more focusd this year, and she’s realized where her abilities are.”
The girls are also anchored by a competitive 4x100-meter relay team comprising Kaylyn Pitts, Alexis Wells, Morgan Pearson and Breanna Schmuck.
Schmuck also runs the 100- and 300-meter hurdles, but Wolfe said her best event is the 300-meter hurdles. She has run a 49.48-second race so far this season, according to Wolfe.
Sprinters bring fresh look to boys team
The boys team has won the district championship two years in a row. Last year, the boys took third place at the regional meet. This year, Wolfe hopes they can be a contender in the state meet.
David Drumm, a junior, is the only returning state qualifier from last year’s team. Drumm focuses on the 3,200-meter run and, so far this season, he has ran it in 9:58. Wolfe said Drumm’s time should come down as the season progresses.
Wolfe said the boys team has always been a better distance team, but that’s changing.
“We’re pretty balanced,” Wolfe said. “In years past, we’ve been distance strong. This year, we’re actually leaning toward sprinter strong.”
Hurdler Perez Pierre took fifth place in the 300-meter hurdles last season. Wolfe expects him to be a state qualifier in the same event this year. So far this season, he has run the race in 41.4 seconds, but Wolfe said he should get to less than 40.
This year’s team also features a more competitive crop of sprinters, including Jay Jones, Tyrique Harper and Justin Watts in the 100-meter dash. Isaiah Haines is the team’s best 400-meter dash runner, and he ran a 51.2 second race earlier this season.
In the end, Wolfe knows there are high expectations on his team after sweeping the districts last season. He also said that because the team has consistently improved each year, now is the time to stop settling.
“We have a lot of runners who were near misses (at states) last year who should be making that jump to state qualifiers,” Wolfe said.
And if the team can do that, Wolfe said they will be a team to look out for.
“Each year, we’ve gotten a little bit better,” he said. “And the next step is to be competitive at states and not just be happy about being there.”
RUNNERS TO WATCH
David Drumm: Drumm was a state qualifier last season in the 3,200-meter run.
Cameron Allen: Allen has run the one mile in 4 minutes, 29 seconds so far this season. He’s one of four milers for Matanzas who is running sub-4:50.
Hannah Loder: Loder was a state qualifier in the one-mile run last season and likely will be back this season.
Kaylyn Pitts: Pitts is running 12.8 seconds in the 100-meter dash and the mid-27s in the 200 meters.
