Kieling continues to pick up points for Knights
By: Bob Nuse
While Paul Glass knows his West Windsor-Plainsboro High North girls’ track and field team isn’t going to contend for any championships this year, he also knows there isn’t another group of athletes he’d rather be coaching.
"They’re a pleasure to work with and they’re all great kids," said Glass, whose team fell to 3-4 with a 63-59 loss to Princeton on Wednesday. "They’re all hard workers and they love to see the improvement they make from meet to meet and practice to practice. Even though we lost the meet today, we had 24 kids do their personal best.
"And the kids we have on this team are great kids who love being a part of it. Vanessa Gibens is a great kid. Gretchen Kieling is only a junior but she’s a great leader on the team. And we’ve got some young kids who have really started to enjoy it. Jackie Marks has done very well in the weight events. And Jade Phame, who is a freshman, lost for the first time today in the high jump. I think they all love being part of the team."
And the Knights have also come to realize that every performer is important. North has been close in all four of its losses, where they know every point counts. So there are plenty of athletes who get to make a contribution.
"Even the kids who haven’t been scoring know if they keep working hard eventually they’re going to score a point in a meet," Glass said. "And when that kid who never scores finally gets a point in a meet, it’s a great thing to see."
One person the Knights can always count on for points in multiple events is Kieling, who had a typical high-scoring day Wednesday when she won the 400 hurdles, finished second in the 100 hurdles and was part of North’s winning 4×400 relay team.
"She’s good for a relay win and two others in just about every meet," Glass said. "And the great thing about her is she’ll go wherever we need her to go in a meet. We’ve used her in the 200 and once in a while we’ll throw her into the 800. She’s not a big talker, but she’s a leader on the team.
"She has faith in the coaches that we’ll put her where we need her to score points and she’ll do what’s needed for the team to be successful."
Kieling’s best events are the two hurdle races. On Wednesday she turned in a personal best in the 400 hurdles when she won the event in 1:08.1.
"I feel like I’ve been pretty consistent so far," Kieling said. "Mr. Glass has always stressed the hurdles and he likes to have people in there. I wound up doing it and I happen to like it. There is a lot of skill and endurance involved in the 400 hurdles. It’s a challenging event and I like it."
Kieling knows that when it comes to the Mercer County meet there will be plenty of tough hurdle competition.
"Hopewell has a girl (Jessica Pall) who is really fast," Kieling said. "And I know there are some other good girls out there as well. I just try to do the best I can each meet."
And Kieling will also run whichever event she’s needed in most. And she’s happy to be a part of a team that works so well together.
"After Astrid (Pilgrim) graduated we knew we had a lot of holes to fill because she could do so much," Kieling said. "We have a great group of girls on the team. Whether we win or lose, we all have a lot of support. Even at the big meets if we’re not first, second or third we’re still getting out there and supporting each other."
Kieling, who plays soccer for the Knights in the fall and runs indoor track in the winter, keeps herself busy with the different sports. And she’s happy to have it that way.
"It’s good not to get locked into just one thing," said Kieling, who plays travel soccer in the spring with the New Jersey Wildcats. "It’s nice to have two different options. I enjoy playing soccer and I also enjoy being part of the track team. It’s a nice change from one to the other."
Kieling had her usual productive day Wednesday as she helped the team pick up points in three events. The Knights also received a pair of wins from Marks, who was first in the shot put and the discus, while Leah Sachs was first in the javelin.
Princeton had a big day in the sprints and distance events to secure the win. Alison Crowley won the 100 meters, 200 meters and 100 hurdles for the Little Tigers, while Meaghan Lynch also won multiple events, capturing the 800 meters and 1600 meters.

