‘Cook’-ing up success

By: Sean Moylan
Anna Cook put Florence girls’ varsity track and field on the map even before the Flashes had a girls’ track team. So all eyes will be on the senior superstar as she takes her last jumps as a Flash this spring.
      Last spring she won the high jump at both the Group I state meet and at the Meet of Champions. Florence head coach Rodney Robeson hopes she can repeat the feat once again. Moreover, she’s coming off a second-place finish in the high jump at the Indoor Meet of Champions and if recent practices are any indication, she’s better than ever.
      "I’m hoping she can hit 5′ 8" in a meet," said Robeson, who has already seen Cook clear that mark a couple of times in practice. Cook is also skilled in the long jump but she can compete in several events when needed
      Cook, however, is now sharing the spotlight with several of her teammates, including senior Katie Eells, who is a spectacular javelin thrower. Senior Brittany Spence, who has already has a solid reputation as a standout javelin thrower, will give the pole vault a try this season. Seniors Marla Sensi and Rebecca Wright are already established big point scorers for Florence in the distance races. Senior Cheryl Jiras is a stellar 800 runner and discus thrower. Senior Justine Wyckoff’s main events are the shot put and the discus.
      Florence also has some young athletes who are shining in the early practices, including freshman Renne Conners (distance), sophomore Kristen Cardiaccoto (distance) and freshman Chakera Hightower (sprints).
      "I think we have a shot at doing really well," said Robeson, who is carrying roughly 28 athletes on his squad. So others, not listed, will surely step up and score points for the Flashes this season.
      According to Robeson, Palmyra will be the team to beat in the Freedom Division. Last season the Flashes had a meet record of 3-1, so they are far more than just Cook and a bunch of girls. There are several legitimate stars in this team. And this may be the year the rest of Group I stands up and takes notice of them.
BOYS
      With most of its athletes returning from last year’s fine 6-2 squad, a casual Flashes’ fan may have thought that the multi-talented and deep Florence Township Memorial High boys’ varsity track and field team would be the favorite to win the Freedom Division this season.
      Unfortunately, New Egypt, the defending Freedom Division champs, lost very few athletes to graduation and is returning most of its athletes. So between track and softball, Florence and New Egypt have developed a great local rivalry.
      "We had a good year last season, but New Egypt is going to be the team to beat," said Florence head coach Mike Flynn, who is, nonetheless, excited about the new track and field facilities at the new high school.
      Florence will no longer have to give away points in the pole vault and this season local teams have added the triple jump to the list of regular season meet events.
      The Flashes have their All-Freedom Division All-Star senior shot putter Kevin Watts back. Moreover, junior star Chris Salaga is currently throwing the javelin in the 150’s. Sophomore Jon Allen, who had a tremendous freshman season, is expected to be a standout in the discus.
      A great high jumper, senior Shaquan Virgil will also compete in the 100 and 200. Junior D.J. Pittenger is already a standout in the 400 intermediate hurdles and he may compete in the pole vault as well, while junior Matt Belcher’s best event is the 110 high hurdles. Junior Stephen Worstall is already running sub 5 minute miles while senior Jim Karwacki has a strong reputation for excellence in the 3,200.
      With the team’s new and improved track, junior Justin Stone is expected to run some great times in the 400. Senior Kevin Reeder is a very good high jumper. Junior Joe Laureti has looked good in the 800 and senior Jared Schuster is a strong sprinter.
      Florence also has two other very good senior javelin throwers in Kyle Carlson and Kyle Schafer. Senior Adam Pernice did well in the shot and the discus last year and this year he may add the pole vault to his list of events. And senior Brian Cook has had past success in the discus.
      This year junior Quentin Loftin (long jump, 100, 200) and sophomore newcomer Anthony Krause (jumps, including the triple jump) may help out too. Some other varsity newcomers of note are Joe Price (a sophomore sprinter), Zach Carguno (a sophomore sprinter) and Kevin Linico (a junior sprinter). But other new standouts could emerge over the course of the season.
      Flynn and assistant coach Ross O’Neill, who works with the sprinters, long jumpers and hurdlers, are still trying the right athletes to cover each event, especially pole vault and the triple jump. In previous seasons Florence hosted very few meets. But this year, with the new track, that will change.
      "We have about five home meets," said Flynn, who handles the distance runners, the pole vaulters and the triple jumpers. Rodney Robeson, the girls’ track coach, usually works with the throwers.
      New Egypt may or may not keep the Flashes from winning the Freedom this season, but no one is going to keep them from having a good year and advancing athletes to the state tournament.