By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
The Stuart Country Day School track and field team recently completed the best season in the program’s history.
And chances look good that the best is yet to come.
This past season the Tartans combined a strong senior group with a large contingent of young athletes to finish with a 9-1 dual meet record. The team had a good chance to win a state Prep B title, but the championship meet was postponed due to weather after only eight events and never rescheduled.
But a season that also included 11 school records and a pair of medals at the Penn Relays certainly left everyone feeling good about the season.
“What was dominant about the team was the balance,” Stuart head coach Len Klepack said. “We had a lot of contributors. We had new freshmen come in with our returners and covered every event. That was important. We had a nice senior group and a veteran core.
“The McGowen triplets (Pam, Juliet and Natalie) played a big part. Having a nice balance of young athletes with the veterans it all came together. We also have a lot of consistence in the program with a coaching staff that has been together for six years.”
In addition to the McGowens, three other seniors played big roles in helping lead the program. Kate Walsh, Lindsay Craig and Jen Walsh were part of that strong senior class.
“They are good athletes and leaders by example,” Klepack said. “They have had a remarkable career at Stuart academically and athletically. This team was so string this year. We won medals at the Penn Relays in two events, which no Stuart team had done before. We had 11 school records set by different girls and that shows the type of team this is. We had balance in all of the events.”
The junior class included Casey Nelson, Ally McGowen, Claudary Jones, Jada Postasdan and Milan Kainer.
“We had a lot of outstanding results,” Klepack said. “Kate Walsh was dominant in the field events and also won the state title in discus. That was one event that was concluded. She had a very good year.
“This was the first time we went to the county meet. We felt this would be a good sign for the younger kids. We are showing them we are trying to improve upon our level and put them in good company. We didn’t expect to win anything, but we felt we could be competitive and give the girls something to shoot for in the future.”
The future looks bright with a large contingent of sophomores and freshman on this year’s team. The sophomore group includes Michelle Kwafo, Allison Walsh, Madeleine Michaels, Sonia Mohandas, Allie Burgess, Kendra Brenya, Brittany Jones and Liz Mele. The freshman class includes Priscilla Francois, Bey-Shana Clark, Akilah Johnson and Allie Rounds.
“Kate’s sister Allison won the high jump and tied school the school record at the state meet and she is only a sophomore,” Klepack said. “Casey nelson had an excellent year and was part of four school records. She was the indoor state champ in the 3,200 in Prep B.
“One of our freshmen, Bey-Shana Clark, was the only one over 30 feet in the shot heading into states but they did not compete it that event because of the weather. Priscilla Francois was part of several school records and broke the school record in the intermediate hurdles. Michelle Kwafo is an excellent athlete.
The combination of experience and talented newcomers made this a special year for the Tartans.
“We had a lot of balance, which was the key to any success we had as a team,” Klepack said. “Our coaches did a great job. Gary Dura was terrific with the distance runners. My wife, Nancy, worked with the field athletes in the jumps and weights. It was a team thing.
“What we liked about it was teaching the kids that track and field teaches life lessons. If you work hard you are rewarded. We had a good turnout. There were a combination of factors that came together for us this year. We have the potential to be a quality team again next year. They feel good about what they accomplished and the future looks good.”
