The sun has been shining this week, and it is starting to feel like spring, which means that track season is just around the corner. The Chatham boys are looking forward to a competitive season, and although they will be missing some key performers from last year, a few of the team's top competitors are still around, and a few of the younger athletes have been maturing rapidly.
Last year, Josh Baker went to the Meet of Champions for Chatham during the spring track season in the 3200 meter event. He graduated after the season and now runs at Johns Hopkins University. According to Chatham coach Pat Barry, he will be missed, but Barry sees promise in his new team.
Sophomore Anthony Malatesta is coming off of a strong winter track season, in which he qualified for the Group II championship for the 800 meter and the 1600 meter events. Senior Jack Beecher qualified for them as well in the 3200 meter event.
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Malatesta set a new personal record in the mile during winter track, running the event in 4:39.
"Breaking a personal record as big as I did, going below 4:40, makes it hard," said Malatesta. He is determined to keep improving—he kept running during the hiatus between winter track and spring, not allowing himself a break.
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"He's a road racer," said Barry, referring to Malatesta's off-season training regimen.
Senior Stephen Leonard, a hockey player in the winter, is coming off a tough quarterfinal round loss by the Chatham hockey team in the state tournament. But now it is spring, and he is ready to focus exclusively on running, although he still trains for track during the hockey season.
"I try to run five times a week during hockey season, but sometimes it is hard, so it is more like three to five times a week," said Leonard.
Leonard's best time in the mile is 4:37, but he has big goals for the upcoming season.
"The school record is 4:16, so I'm trying for 4:15," said Leonard.
Junior Jake Neumann had a strong season in the shot-put for Chatham in the winter, but in spring Neumann can compete in his best event, the discus.
"He is even more promising in disc than in shot," said Barry.
The Chatham team knows who their toughest competition will be this season, because their toughest competition always seems to be the same few teams.
"In our division, Hanover Park is always the biggest competitor, and Parsippany should be strong this year," said Barry.
The Chatham team has been growing as the number of students in the school grows.
"We have 80 boys this year, and very few are seniors," said Barry. "A lot of the young hurdlers are hoping to see a lot of improvement."
With the experience of Leonard, the dedication of up-and-coming Malatesta, and a team of 80 to draw from, the Chatham boys are poised to have a season full of personal triumphs as they try to solidify into a highly competitive team.
