AHS girls track has talent for a great year

By: Kyle Moylan
   Allentown High will be returning a lot of talented athletes on its girls’ track team this year. The girls can run fast, jump high and far and throw various items a long way.
   Allentown can do almost all of the things needed to insure victory in a sporting event. The one thing it can’t do is play defense. So while she is pretty confident her girls will put up good marks each meet, the upcoming season remains a bit of a mystery to Allentown coach Jacqueline Mulryne.
   "I’m excited to have all the girls we have back and all the potential talent, but I think we’re in a very tough division," Mulryne said. "Hopewell Valley will be strong. Princeton is also strong. Hightstown should also be pretty competitive. I know we have talent, but we have to see what everyone else has."
   Allentown was scheduled to start the season yesterday at Robbinsville in a meet that also included Ewing. With so many of its athletes away for spring break, a team more indicative of Allentown’s talent is scheduled to host Princeton on Tuesday. Other days when Allentown should shine this season are in the Mercer Relays on April 21, the Mercer Championships on May 12 and the Penn Relays on April 26-28.
   Mary Sancilio, only a sophomore, is one of the athletes expected to excel in those meets. She advanced all the way to groups in the high jump last season. She also will do the long jump.
   Quiana Volney, a junior, advanced to groups in the hurdles and as part of the school’s 4×400. Volney also competes in the 400 and triple jump.
   Haley Odell (sophomore), Brittany O’Brien (junior) and Erica Doll were the other athletes to take part on Allentown’s successful 4×400 team. Doll has graduated, but O’Brien and Odell are back for the 100, 200 and 400. Rachel Scheuerman is also in the mix in the 100, 200 and 400.
   The 4×400 team set a school record last season. Volney, Scheuerman, Odell, Brittany Loriquet and O’Brien are all returnees that were used on the team at one point or another.
   Just a freshman last year, Bea Pesciotta made her mark in the javelin. Pesciotta will do all of the throwing events this season.
   Brittany Loriquet, a senior, is established in the triple and long jump.
   "I have a good core of girls back, but there are also a lot of young girls," Mulryne said noted. "I have 26 freshmen on the team. I see a lot of talent potential."
   Morgan Marsicano and Christa Bonham are two freshmen that have showed promise in the hurdles. With Loriquet, Volney, Angel Canzano and Rachel Scheuerman already in those events, "I expect to have a very strong hurdling group," Mulryne said.
   Shelby Doll, another freshman, has looked good in the 400 and 4×400, two of Allentown’s strongest events.
   Allentown has talented groups back for the 800, 1600 and 3200. Kristen Kutub (senior) and Grace Marie Jackson are options in all three events. Meghan Valonoski, a freshman, will also compete in the mile and 3200. Katie McGinn is an option in the 800.
   Sancilio and Canzano will be joined in the high jump by a group of talented freshmen. They are Nikki Galipo, Samantha O’Brien, Erin Brink and Brittany Hodul.
   Loriquet, McGinn and Volney are the core of the triple jump. Loriquet, Scheuerman, McGinn, Volney and Odell handle the long jump.
   Alice Mak and Lauren Theobald, both seniors, are the top pole vaulters.
   Pesciotta will be joined by Denise Winkle, O’Brien and Natalie Howell in the throwing team.
   "My concern now is to put the girls in the events where they will be the strongest and help the team win," Mulryne said. "We have a lot of talent and potential."
   This just so happens to be a season where a lot of teams in the Colonial Valley Conference can say the same thing. It should make for great competition.