Hopewell Valley indoor track
By: Jim Green
The Hopewell Valley Central High School boys and girls winter track squads will use different benchmarks to measure success this season.
Under first-year coach Phil Novack, the Bulldog boys are trying to forge an identity and lay a solid foundation for the future.
Aaron Oldfield, in his 12th season as head coach of the Lady Bulldogs, wants to continue the level of excellence associated with the girls program.
Both coaches will get started when their respective teams compete in the Spiked Shoe Invitational at The Armory in New York City on Dec. 20.
"We are in the building stage," Novack said. "We are trying to build interest in the program."
Led by senior distance runners Mike Batanian, who was second this fall in the Mercer County Boys Cross Country Championships, Andrew Freeman and Dan Petty, the Bulldog boys also feature junior Paul Wagner, who Novack feels has the potential to be one of the best shot putters in the area.
The 15-athlete roster isn’t large number-wise, but HoVal isn’t lacking in the determination department.
"We are looking to recruit more sprinters and jumpers to bolster the program," added Novack, who was a volunteer coach during the winter last year. "The core group we have is hard working and dedicated. That’s the best type of kids to work with."
With 35 girls on the roster, the Lady Bulldogs are led by seniors Natalie Mapp (sprints and relay) and Emily Palumbo (sprints). Juniors who should score valuable points are distance runner Emily Sherrard, the county girls cross-country champion, Stephanie Ferrara (hurdles/sprints), Alison Fletcher (shot put), Miriam Kahn (hurdles/sprints), Jackie Barrett (sprints), Laura Solia (shot put), Kathy Bigelow (hurdles/high jump) and Kristen Volpe (sprints/pole vault).
Sophomores include Abby Harris-Shea (high jump), Kaitlin Gregory (middle distance) and distance runners Megan Fitzpatrick and Maggie Griffith. Freshmen who should see action include Raven Jones (sprints) and middle-distance runners Sarah Gustafson and Kelsey Smith.
"This team has the hallmark of our teams," Oldfield said. "They are hard-working, dedicated athletes. They realize the tradition of the program and want to continue it."
Winter track differs from spring track in that there are no discus, javelin, triple jump, long jump and 400 intermediate high hurdles competitions. Also, the 110-meter (boys) and 100-meter (girls) low hurdles races are lessened to 55 meters.
A smaller track, condensed schedule and foul weather are obstacles facing winter track competitors.
"There is so much adversity to deal with," Oldfield said. "There are more teams to battle for the state title and the tracks are smaller. Real estate on the track is at a premium. There aren’t that many dual meets in the winter. That’s where you develop the younger kids.
"You have to get the girls ready quickly for the states (Jan. 9 for relays and Jan. 16 for individuals at Princeton University’s Jadwin Gymnasium) and keep it up until the county meet in February (at Widener University in Philadelphia). The elements are also a challenge as you have girls getting sick."
While the Lady Bulldogs should battle Trenton for county supremacy and Camden and Highland Regional for the state championship, the boys are taking it one step at a time.
"I believe that any athlete can accomplish almost anything he or she wants to do," Novack said. "Ninety percent of this sport is motivation. I can provide the road map and give them tools to succeed. What it comes down to is that the guys have to want it for themselves."
With 15 meets on the schedule, the Lady Bulldogs are looking at a crowded and talented Group II bracket.
"In the winter, there are no sectional championships," Oldfield said. "It’s just the group meet. The Parochial schools are added to the public school bracket. We’ll be going against teams like Notre Dame, Christian Brothers Academy and Camden Catholic."
A state title isn’t in the plans for the Bulldog boys this season. Nothing will come easy, but they’ll earn every point.
"The guys will have to work for everything," Novack said. "I truly believe that you can trace all the glory back to hard work. I’ve been involved in track and field for 12 years. I try to use some of the lessons my coaches taught me."
One of the major reasons for HoVal’s continued success is the dedication of the coaching staff. Although Oldfield is the girls head coach and Novack coaches the boys, the staff interacts extremely well with each other and complements each other.
"Mike Hammill is my assistant coach," Oldfield said. "He is a valuable asset to our program. We wouldn’t be where we are without him. We have ‘official’ titles, but we are a team.
"Phil works with the weights, Mike handles the sprints, and I focus on the distance runners. Our coaching staff is interchangeable. We are dynamic in that sense."
HoVal is also pretty dynamic on the track.

