Mapp was spark for girls team yet again

Hopewell Valley indoor track

By: Jim Green
   Four years and four championships. The math is pretty simple — as is the conclusion one can draw from it: Natalie Mapp has been pretty indispensable for the Hopewell Valley Central High School indoor track team.
   Mapp, a senior, led the Lady Bulldogs to their fourth consecutive Group II state relay championship Sunday at Princeton University’s Jadwin Gymnasium. Hopewell battled back to tie former Group III power Woodrow Wilson by winning the last two events, the 1,600-meter sprint medley and the 4×400, setting meet records in both. Not surprisingly, Mapp was a member of both winning teams.
   "Considering it was the fourth year, it was very important," Mapp said. "Going into it, I knew we had a great chance. I was happy we were able to win."
   In similar situations, many coaches might be nervous going into those last two events. But Hopewell coach Aaron Oldfield has seen Mapp perform so many times under similar circumstances, he knew he could count on his standout senior to lead the way.
   "She’s always so competitive," he said. "She always wants to run to her fullest potential. She never gives anything less than 100 percent."
   But effort can only carry a team so far. And heading into the final race, the 4×400, the Lady Bulldogs knew they were going to have to come up with their best performance of the day in order to beat out Woodrow Wilson and forge a tie for first in the team standings.
   "It was kind of scary at first, not knowing what the outcome was going to be," Oldfield said. "We had had high hopes about it.
   "We (Hopewell and Wilson) were both a little nervous."
   But that nervous anticipation did not stifle the Lady Bulldogs. Juniors Emily Sherrard, Miriam Khan and Kristen Volpe joined Mapp in an incredibly clutch performance, as Hopewell set a meet record time of 4:06.71 in the process of holding off Wilson, which placed second in the event (4:10.84).
   "We’re just so proud of each other, and we’re happy it (the championship streak) could go on," said Mapp, who tied former Lady Bulldog Kate Willever’s record of seven team state championships, combining indoor and outdoor track.
   While it’s hard to compare championship teams from different years, Mapp said this year’s meet stood out for one specific reason.
   "Mentally, this was the toughest one," she said. "With Woodrow Wilson dropping down to Group II, going into the meet, we knew we had more competition. I would definitely say this was one of the toughest ones. It required a lot of focus and a lot of teamwork."
   If anyone is capable of comparing the four teams, it is Mapp, who has been a key contributor on each. She stepped in as a freshman in 2002 and served as a supporting cast member as the Lady Bulldogs won two in a row under the leadership Willever and Jessie Pall.
   Three years later, the Lady Bulldogs have three more state championships. But Mapp is quick to point out that credit belongs to the entire squad, not just one or two team leaders.
   "We don’t have a team captain," she said. "I look at all the girls as leaders. Everyone on this team has their own responsibilities, and they all can step it up tremendously."