Pirate ready to show track speed
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Ashleigh Delemos feels naive about what she will face in the Mercer County Championships at Toms River 9 a.m. Sunday.
It may be the West Windsor-Plainsboro South freshman sprinter and hurdler’s first truly big meet, but it is her opponents who might want to know a little more about her.
”We’ve never had somebody this talented come in since I’ve come in seven years ago,” said Pirates head coach Todd Smith. “It’ll be fun to see how this turns out.
”The state meet was the relay meet. I don’t think she got the true individual pressure there. This is a competitive county.”
Delemos will compete in the 55-meter dash, the 200 meters and the 55-meter hurdles along with one Pirates relay.
”I’m going to feel some pressure to do well,” Delemos said. “I don’t know how big this is. I’m going to use all these techniques I learned, all the training I’ve had during the winter season. From what I’ve heard, it’s a pretty big meet.”
Like any freshman, Delemos is adjusting to the level of competition in high school and just what it entails to be a part of the track and field team.
”Honestly, I had no idea what high school track would be like,” Delemos said. “I’m the oldest sibling in my family. I’m the first one to enter high school. All this is new to me. I didn’t really have any expectations.”
She started competing in track in sixth grade, but didn’t take it seriously until she trained with an AAU track club last year. Now, she could compete for a title in any of the sprint events at the counties.
”I prefer the hurdles,” Delemos said. “It takes a lot of work to get technique and form right. I’m still really far from being perfect. But I think they’re fun to go over.”
Over the next four years, few may do it quicker than Delemos. She was a nationals qualifier in hurdles as an AAU runner and already has come onto the high school scene quickly.
”We haven’t had many individual meets,” Smith said. “She’s run 8.88 in the hurdles which qualified her for the Eastern State Championships. It’s pretty impressive as a freshman. This next month or so will be exciting, starting with counties on Sunday.
”She’s pretty athletic,” he added. “We are looking forward to getting her in some of the jumps in the spring time. She hasn’t run the dash this year. I’m pretty confident she’ll be able to hold her own there. We’re looking forward to seeing how she competes at the county level. She’s young. Anything she does, she’ll gain experience with.”
At this point in her career, gaining experience is of the utmost importance. Delemos is ready for her next new experience at the county meet.
”I’m learning each meet,” Delemos said. “Obviously Trenton will be pretty good. I’m learning as I go along.”
The meets, the individual opponents, the venues, all are new to her. One thing that Delemos knows already is that she enjoys being a part of the Pirates squad.
”I’ve never had the concept,” Delemos said. “I’ve never felt like I was actually on a team. For AAU, I wasn’t really part of a team. At Grover (Middle School), it was really not a complete team. In high school, you feel everyone who’s here wants to be here. They have a dedication to track. I didn’t know I was going to like the team so much.”
And for a WW-P South team that has been rich in distance runners, adding a sprinter of her caliber only helps. Delemos should help the Pirates while she chases her own lofty goals. It is the time that motivates her most.
”Honestly, if I lose, I’m not that disappointed,” she said. “Even if I’m in the front, and I get a really bad time, I’m not going to be too happy with myself. It’s more personal for me. The competition, even though it drives me, you worry about yourself more in track. It’s a very individual sport.”
The Pirates have been impressed by one of their new individuals. And there’s more to expect from Delemos, in this season and those to come.
”This is the first time she’s ever run winter track,” Smith said. “She holds up quite well. She has a pretty good work ethic. We introduced her to the weight room. She has some pretty good goals for her career. I think she enjoys track and field.”
Ashleigh Delemos is new to high school, but she is hoping to make a burst onto the county scene Sunday.
”I have expectations,” she said. “I’m trying to put forth all I’ve been working for this season. I want to do really well.”