Track looks to get settled
Northampton head track coach Tim Caffrey remembered the seniors on his roster last season, which is a hefty amount of underclassmen.
But due to a canceled season last year, Caffrey believes his team may feel some aftershocks until they get settled.
“It was hard last year,” said the veteran coach. “Individually, I called every one of them. We’ll have to see how everybody performs at the start of the season this year.
“We have some talent, but we also will have to develop some of the younger kids.”
The Konkrete Kids began the season with a defeat at Easton with the girls’ suffering a 97-52 loss and the boys dropped a 88-62 decision.
Senior Kelly Tita captured the 100, and she was one of four individual winners.
Senior Amber Poniktera won the 1,600 (555.6), junior Olivia Vajda took the javelin (108-03), and junior Serenity Burkit was first in the 3,200 (13:24). Their 4X800 unit (sophomore Madelyn Hurst, sophomore Sarah Mele, junior Julia Minnich, and Poniktera) took top honors in 10:43.3.
Junior Benjamin Henry won the 400 in 53.2 and was one of five individual winners. Senior Wyatt Poniktera took the 800 (2:10.2), and junior Shaun Apsley won the 300 hurdles (41.2). Senior Cliff Bastow won the pole vault (11-03), and fellow senior Tyler Klucsarits had the top throw in the javelin (121-01).
The 4 X 800 team (junior John Breslin, junior Ezekiel Colyer, senior Brayden Hurst, and senior Owen Nahf) won in 9:18.4.
Tita repeated the feat in a home meet against Liberty and cut her time down to 12.8. The girls were on the short end of a 93-53 score against Liberty.
“Kelly has had her personal best, and is doing a nice job,” said Caffrey. “It is nice to see her win the event.”
Poniktera won in the 800 (2:33.1) and sophomore Danika Cuchran was a double winner in the 100 hurdles (17.8) and the 300 hurdles (51.40).
“Poniktera has been running well,” added Caffey. “We expect her to have a good year.”
Henry again won the 100 in a time of 11.0 and Apsley won again in the 300 hurdles (41.9). The boys lost their meet to Liberty by a 88-62 score.
Senior Matt Heisler won the 400 (53.6); senior Cole Frank, the 1600 (4:36.5); Colyer, 3,200 (10:32.3), senior Nicholas Quinones, the 100 hurdles (17.0), senior Cliff Bastow, the pole vault (12-0); and junior Gavin Mika, the shot (36-0.50).
(Quinones) can do distance, and he came to me about hurdles,” said Caffrey. “He has been doing really well.”
Caffrey knows this could be a transition year for his squad.
“We don’t have as many kids as some of the other schools,” he stated. “We would like to have at least 15 in each grade level, and we are lower in our sophomore and freshman classes.
“It just concerns me and I would like to have it. We’ll see how the season goes.”