By Sean Moran ’15 | Sports Editor

By winning the regional meet on Friday, May 16, the girls track team will compete and have a chance to win a state championship.

“Our team performed extremely well,” said head coach Stephen Zaranek. “Our point total was the highest in history and indicated our true team depth.  The girls qualified to the state finals in 15 of the 17 events – another record.  We were strong, confident and deep,” 

The team had so many top performers in every event, Zaranek said. All of the sprinters, distance runners, hurdles, relays, and field players had a huge role in winning regionals.

“Many runners shined at the meet,” said Zaranek. “ Our relay team of Kelsie Schwartz ‘14, Ersula Farrow ‘15, Alexa Calas ‘14 and Kamryn Leonard ‘17 won a huge race which gave us our best relay time of the season.”

The seniors played a huge role in helping out the team, Kelsie Schwartz ‘14 said.

“The seniors were the basis of the team this year.” said Schwartz. “Leadership was at an all time high, and the seniors led and cheered everyone on. We are all really good friends and we stuck together.”

Leadership by the seniors has been great all season, Zaranek said. The team has an exceptional  and well experienced group of seniors.  They have set the tone for the whole team.

Underclassmen also played a huge role in getting this team closer, Schwartz said.

“Underclassmen were fantastic, a lot of the girls got into varsity and ran exceptional times,” said Schwartz. “They will be key in continuing South’s success for the future.”

“We’ve had across the board contributions from all four classes,” said Zaranek “With 121 girls on the team, our top talent has been spread out among all four classes.  All work together well and oust each other to keep progressing.”

The team has to come out with their best effort at the state meet, Anna Piccione ‘16 said.

“We all need to go after our best times and put in all of our effort,” said Piccione. “We need to perform with a positive attitude and use the competition to push us to a better place or a better time.”

The girls will have to be prepared to face all of the good competition at the state meet, Zaranek said.

“The competition is fierce with all 150 division 1 teams competing,” said Zaranek. “It is not a one on one team competition.  The best from the entire 150 teams all compete against one another.  We are hopeful for a solid, top five finish.”

“You basically have to have solid girls in each area of events,” Schwartz said. “To win the state meet again this year, we have to be strong and believe in each other. Anything can happen.”

The state meet is on Saturday, May 31 at Rockford High School.

Photos courtesy of Nina Smith ’15.