AMHERST - Track and field teams change their composition from year to year and Amherst Regional High School isn't any different.
"Some years we have good sprinters and some years we have good throwers but I think we're going to have a well-rounded team this year," said track coach Fred Gould.
Senior athletes Gould has high hopes for in the throwing sports are Josh Coleman in the javelin and Greg Curtis in the discus.
Intermediate athlete Dylan Weston is also expected to do well in the javelin.
Triple jumpers and long jumpers expected to excel are Crystal White, Tina Leggett, Rachel MacDonald, Sammy Mohamed and Richard Hope.
In the hurdles, it's intermediate athletes Greg Gilroy and Nicola Sperry, and senior Laura Conrad who are expected to do well.
There is one aspect of the team that is lagging compared to last year.
"The team is smaller than it's been in the past," said Gould. "Softball has kind of taken hold in the county and more kids are playing softball in all the schools. So it's kind of hurt track a bit."
Having a lower number of athletes will impact the team standings.
"We've traditionally done well at the regionals in terms of winning banners, but to do that, you need the numbers," said Gould.
But the provincials use a point system that can work to ARHS's advantage.
"At the provincials, you try to get as many points as you can," said Gould. "You get points for up to eighth place, so you might have two good sprinters but if you also have athletes getting points in the relays, the throwing events, the long jump, hurdles, high jump and the triple jump, you have a good chance of doing very well."
Gould is confident several ARHS athletes will qualify for provincials but it's a long, gruelling schedule to get there.
The districts are scheduled for the May 23, weekend in Oxford. The following weekend, the regionals will be in Truro and the following weekend will be the provincials in Dartmouth.
The team is sorting out which athletes will compete in which sports and hopes to have made those decisions by Thursday.
"I just hope the weather is good for all the meets," said Gould with a laugh.
dmathieson@amherstdaily.com
Track and field team taking shape
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Published on
May 12, 2009
- Published on January 3, 2010
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Dave Mathieson
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