Mitos jumps into track success

WW-P North sprinter wins triple jump at ‘Fame’ meet

By: Justin Feil
   A year ago, Erica Mitos’ talents weren’t needed outside of the track.
   This spring, however, Mitos has found that her biggest contributions to the West Windsor-Plainsboro North girls’ track and field team have come in her newest event, the triple jump.
   "I used to just be a sprinter," said the Knights senior. "Lately, I’ve been really excited to get to triple jump. I’m really enjoying it."
   Her enjoyment hasn’t been hurt by the fact that Mitos has been enjoying tremendous success lately. She led a sweep of the triple jump in WW-P North’s 88-52 win over Nottingham on Wednesday, then Saturday won the triple jump to help the Knight girls finish fifth at the Hamilton Hall of Fame Meet.
   "I just started this year," Mitos said of the triple jump. "I just kind of started it and went for it. Right away, I kind of had a knack for it."
   So much so that now she’s wishing that she took it up a little earlier. Mitos, who also played soccer for WW-P North, will be a full-time college student next fall and this spring track season is her last organized athletic team endeavor.
   "I’m pretty serious about it," Mitos said. It’s showed. A new personal best of 33-feet-7 inches against Nottingham leaves her just three inches off the school record.
   "I just kind of want to beat the school record," Mitos said. "I definitely think it’s reachable. There’s still so much left in the season."
   Today will be a big one as WW-P North competes against Ewing and host West Windsor-Plainsboro South 4 p.m.
   "We haven’t lost to them yet," said North head coach Paul Glass. "We’re going to try to keep it going. I think this year they might have too much. They seem to have someone everywhere. We had a barnburner with both those teams last year. It should be good."
   "It’s still a pretty big deal," said Mitos, who has battled the Pirates in soccer year after year. "We’ve never lost. It’s always been really close though."
   Mitos will play a big role in determining if the Knights can keep that four-year streak alive. Not only will she continue to look for improvement and a win in the triple jump, but she’s capable of picking up key points in the sprint events as well. She was third in the 100, 200 and 400 against Nottingham. Winning, however, is not paramount to her even as the 2-1 Knights challenge last year’s 6-2 record.
   "We lost one of our key players last year," Mitos said. "She got 20 points a meet, so (without her) it’s harder to match last year’s record. But I think we have the capability to go out and do our best. For me, as long as each person on the team goes out and succeeds in beating their best time, that’s better than winning every meet."
   The Knights have seen several such success stories with individuals doing very well in big competitions. Megan Cream, Christine Franz and Ashleigh Macintosh swept the pole vault while Amy Farkas won the shot put at Saturday’s Hall of Fame meet. Their performances have helped make up for the graduation loss of county champion Gretchen Kieling and the loss of Rebecca Pierson to injury.
   "We’re really not a strong team," Glass said. "We’ve been doing very well though. We have a few strong individuals and then different people are picking it up. We beat Nottingham and Hamilton West. We lost to Allentown, who has something in everything. I don’t know what to expect (today). South appears to have pretty strong team. I know the teams they’ve been going against have been very good.
   "This Hamilton meet, wasn’t a real strong meet," He added. "We had a number of people get medals. They’re all happy. We’re kind of doing pretty much what we thought we would."
   The Knights too have to feel a bit better about their chances to stop the Pirates again after performing well in Saturday’s meet. Mitos is one North athlete who will be confident coming into today’s meet after winning at the Hall of Fame meet.
   "It was good to have different teams other than the same ones we play against," she said. "It wasn’t so big that nobody had a chance to win, but it was still good competition."
   Mitos was back in her usual sprint events, but it was in the triple jump where she earned a gold medal and 10 points for the Knights. It’s something she’s hoping will continue as she looks for the school record and a new personal best in her newest event, one that’s quickly becoming a favorite.
   "I tried it last year, but there was nowhere to put me," she said. "This year, I just had a knack for it. I had no idea I’d be getting personal bests every meet. It’s a neat feeling to have a knack for it."