Track and Field is often viewed as an individual sport, where everyone competes for him or herself. However, this perception minimizes the importance of the team aspect of Track and Field. The Albany High School Track and Field team has always done very well in league meets and in Bay Shore Athletic League competitions.
This looks to be a strong year for Albany Track and Field. With 75 athletes participating this season, the team is much larger than it has been in the past. Distance coach Craig Stern said there are more girls out this season and that it is “nice to see a more equal balance of girls and boys on the team.” As usual there is a strong group of distance runners this season, but fortunately, there is a greater interest in sprints, hurdles, and high jump as well.
Practice after school everyday is hard work. Head Coach Michael Rawlins and Coach Stern encourage the athletes to push themselves during the workouts to build up their speed and endurance. The coaches are making it clear that athletes need to come to all practices unless they have an excused absence. Rawlins said that the athletes are starting to “understand the dedication and work it takes to become competitive” and learning commitment and teamwork.
The team has had a slow start this season due to bad weather, but Rawlins said, “We will persevere!”
The coaching staff has improved since last year with the addition of throws coach Trey Williamson. All three coaches have high hopes for the team and believe we have strong runners and athletes in many different events.
Stern believes the track team is very strong this season and that it “can be competitive with most BSAL teams.” Albany crushed the teams from St. Patrick’s/St. Vincent’s and Holy Names last Thursday (March 31, 2011) at the first league meet of the season. All athletes did very well and several athletes came out on top in their events.
Freshman Suzanne Becker had great early season runs in the 1600m and 800m with times of 5:33 and 2:33 respectively. Aryan Amanat, another freshman, also excelled in her races and came in first in the 400 meters race with a time of 1:04 and the 200 meters race with a time of 28 seconds. Junior Tracey Lum had a good time of 55.8 seconds in the 300 meter hurdles. School record holder and sophomore Dani Aquino did a good job in the long jump with a mark of 15’0.5” and got 29’9” in the triple jump.
For Varsity Boys, Juniors Nolan Tonkyn and Conner Brown had good early season times in their best events, 4:46 in the 1600 meters for Tonkyn and 2:08 in the 800 meters for Brown. Junior Chris Gilliam also did well in his best event, the 400 meters, with a time of 54.2 seconds. Stuart Adams, yet another junior, ran a fast time of 45.7 in the 300 meter hurdles and is expected to break the school record for the 300m hurdles this season. Lastly, sprinter Mike Abrahamsen has returned this season free from injury and ran fast times of 11.1 seconds and 22.2 seconds in the 100 meters and 200 meters respectively.
Rawlins stated that he is “very pleased with the turn-out on the team this year” and he hopes to build a fun and spirited culture for the Albany Track and Field program. He wants the experience of being on the team to leave athletes with the “knowledge and discipline to succeed not only on the track, but in other athletic endeavors and life.”
Dani looks amaziing!