2005 Westfield Girls Outdoor Track Preview

After a nearly flawless indoor season when they won the Union County team and relay titles the Westfield Girls Track team moves outdoors where the addition of seven events figures to make repeating that feat more difficult.

Indoor Coach Jen Buccino, who was named area coach of the year by The Courier News, hands the head coaching duties off to veteran mentor Nancy Carpenter. Buccino, an assistant coach for 17 years handles the talented middle distance corps featuring state 800 meter champion Emily MacNeil.

MacNeil finished the indoor season strongly by running a personal indoor best in the Meet of Champions final and following up with a personal best of 2:13 as anchor of the four by 800 relay.

Along with MacNeil the entire relay group of senior Annie Onishi and juniors Meg Driscoll and Miriam Becker-Cohen return and should be one of the top relay teams in the state.

“Our outdoor school record is 9:27 and I do believe that they are capable of improving that time,” said Buccino.

“We just have to put it together on the same day.“

Individually, MacNeil, the indoor Group III champion is hoping for an outdoor breakthrough.
“I would like to run a 2:13 consistently and hopefully break that and get down near 2:10 if I can by the end of the season,” said MacNeil.

Augmenting the middle and long distance strength is sophomore Erin McCarthy, who ran on the county champion 1600-meter relay team and figures to run the 200, 400, and 800. depending on where she is needed.

McCarthy, MacNeil, Becker-Cohen and Onishi combined to win the 1600 relay at the Union County meet to give the Blue Devils the title. Onishi’s strength is in the 800 and 1600, while Becker-Cohen specializes in the 400 and 800. Becker-Cohen, McCarthy and
MacNeil were all key members of the Westfield Soccer team.

The Blue Devils also have several members of the section champion cross country team to handle the long distance races including Jen Danielsson, Caitlyn Berkowitz and
Rachel Barrett. Freshmen Stephanie Cortinhal and Catherine Cognetti add even more strength to the 400 and 800.

That overwhelming strength made the Blue Devils a formidable indoor team where they were strong in six of the eleven events.

“Our strength is definitely in the middle and long distances .” said Buccino.

The best all around performer on the team is high jumper Emily Perry, who is also a top sprinter and hurdler.

Some of the other leading performers include Christina Henry, Olena Borkowsky, Karolyn Cook, Kate Anderson in the weight events, hurdlers Lauren Nolan, Danielle Parkinson and Marlena Sheridan, jumpers JoAnn Mathew and Alison Rodino and sprinters Ali Fleder, Erica Ammermuller, Mathew and Sheridan.

Buccino and Carpenter are also hoping for some pleasant surprises among the 112 girls
who have tried out.

“The weather has made it tough to sort everything out ,” said Buccino.