ROBBINSVILLE: Girls track has talent for another title

By: Kyle Moylan Sports Editor
    The Robbinsville High School girls’ track team is in the unique position of being both a squad that went 1-5-1 and won the Group I state championship last season.
    According to Coach Mike Walker, he played it safe with his girls. When they were nursing an injury, they sat out.
    “We’re in a sport that you don’t need to be .500 or better to make the state playoffs,” Walker said. “No need to push the kids. We were trying to keep them all healthy so we could go after the title at the end of the season.”
    Robbinsville returns Amber Scott (senior) and Megan Flynn (junior) who are both defending Group I champions. Scott won the 100 hurdles. Flynn won the 3200.
    Meagan Lesniak, a sophomore, earned a medal while running the 3200 in winter track. Amber Rylak, a senior, is another standout in distance events for Robbinsville. She hasn’t competed in Spring track before, but was a member of the school’s talented cross country team.
    Taylor Harmon, a sophomore, made it to the state finals in the high jump last year. She has already cleared five feet in scrimmages this season.
    Kate Connolly, a senior, competes in all three of the throwing events. She earned a medal in the javelin at the Central Jersey Group I meet last season.
    One big advantage for this team than Robbinsville has had in the past is depth. After having 20 girls two years ago and 30 last year, Robbinsville currently has 39 girls on the team.
    “I’m excited about the numbers,” Walker said. “The good thing is the girls are spread out over the different grades so we won’t have that year where everyone graduates.”
    Sprinters on the team are Angie Avellaneda (the junior also does jumps), Christine Barry (freshman), Shannon Castor (the freshman also does jumps), Amanda Douglass (sophomore), Nirelys Hernandez (junior), Kaitlin Hill (senior), Jacklyn Dilts (freshman), Allyson Guieb (the sophomore also does the hurdles), Kristen Hughes (the sophomore also jumps), Alexis Kasper (the junior also hurdles), Alyssa McAnany (a sophomore that also jumps), Maloree Mills (freshman), Emily Olsson (freshman), Brooke Piccione (sophomore), Reilly Sheehan (the freshman also hurdles), Silpa Srinivasulu (the senior also hurdles), Kellye Statz (the sophomore also hurdles) and Shanecque Whitaker (senior).
    The throwers on the team are Emily Caputo (freshman), Grace Delate-
Flynn (freshman), Rebecca Homan (sophomore), Karoline Panes (junior), Eppiphany Polk (senior) and Mary Jane Seiler (sophomore).
    Katherine Killeen (freshman), Lisa Leszcynski (freshman), Megan Lunny (senior) and Alicia Norato (sophomore) are middle distance runners.
    Kelsey Pethybridge (senior), Jenn Sayasack (sophomore) and Alexandra Demetriades (junior) are the team managers.
    Sarah Woidill (freshman), Juliann Swift (freshman), Michelle Principato (freshman), Amanda Korbar (freshman) and Holly Lovering (senior) are the other distance runners on the team.
    Robbinsville is scheduled to open the season today (Thursday) at Princeton. Ewing will also take part in the meet. On Saturday, Robbinsville will take part in the Hall of Fame Relays at Maple Shade.
    “We have a lot of new girls, so we’ll see how it all pans out,” Walker said. “I think we have a lot of girls that will do a good job for us. I think at the end of the year, we’ll be in the running for another state title.”