Girls' Track Looks to Continue Winter Success

The Chatham girls' spring track team is ready to continue its recent success in winter track into the spring season.The Chatham girls winter track team sent two of its members to the Meet of Champions this year—senior Kat Grimes and sophomore Tara Hanley.

Grimes competed in the 1600 meter event, finishing with a time of 5:10, a new school record for indoor track. Her outdoor personal best is 5:02, but she wants to improve in the spring season, which will be her last as a Cougar.

"I want to qualify for the Meet of Champions again and get under five minutes for the mile," said Grimes. She also wants to break the 2:20 mark in the 800 meter race.

Kathleen Lavelle was another Cougar who had a strong winter season, running the 3200 in 11:50 at sectionals. She was injured for spring track last year, but is healthy now and is ready to work hard for the team.

"I'd like to see us win more dual meets," said Lavelle.

Junior Katie Hurt is coming off a strong winter track performance as well, as she was part of the 4 x 400 team that qualified for the Group II championship.

"I really want to work on 400 hurdles this season," said Hurt. "And hopefully the 4 x 400 can do some good things."

The team will need to replace Emily Smith, a middle distance runner who is now running and studying at Gettysburg College, but with Grimes in top form and underclassmen like Hanley competing at such a high level, the Chatham girls could be better this year than they were last.

Senior Sarah Wang is one of the leading sprinters for Chatham, boasting an impressive personal best 400 meter time of 62.6 seconds.

"The team has some great potential ... Penn Relays is looking great right now," said Wang, referring to an important April track meet in Philadelphia.

Wang felt that some of the younger girls on the team have been improving greatly and will be some of Chatham's best assets this season.

"Julie Williamson has been really great. She is a fantastic runner and will be integral this year, especially in the 4 x 400," said Wang.

The Chatham girls will be facing some tough competition, but they know who to look out for.

"Morris Hills is the prohibitive favorite," said Chatham girls head coach Ted Ferguson. "And Parsippany is good, too."

But maybe if the team can gel like Lavelle hopes, under the leadership of a dedicated Grimes and Wang, and with younger girls like Williamson and Hanley continuing to perform at a high level, the Chatham Cougars will be a team to look out for this season, too.