The Millis High girls outdoor track team finished 5-1 in dual meets last year and posted some top-notch results in the post-season. Another successful campaign this spring is very realistic, because coach Laura Conner has lots of returnees who’ll provide depth and experience.
The Mohawks, who finished fourth at the Tri Valley Meet last year, have many strengths and Conner, now in her fourth year at the helm, is optimistic about her squad’s prospects.
“We’ve got 40 girls on the roster, and 20 of them competed last year,’’ Conner said. “Our experience and depth are good. Our strengths are our distance runners, sprinters and throwers. We’re also strong in the 4x400 relay, and I like our team chemistry and our work ethic.’’
Matching last year’s 5-1 record will be a challenge but Conner, who was a TVL all-star in track at Ashland, has a lofty goal for her Mohawks. “I’d like to see us compete for the league title, but it will be a difficult task,’’ she said. “Holliston is the defending champion, and Norton and Hopkinton should be in the mix for the championship.’’
Millis is off to a .500 start, defeating Bellingham and losing to Ashland. While Conner is bullish on her squad, she’s also pleased with her senior tri-captains — Taylor White (hurdles, high jump), Parousia Cruz (400, 4x400) and Sarah Wenzel (javelin, shot put, discus). White’s best time in the 400 hurdles is 1:08.9; Cruz has compiled a best of 1:00.35 in the 400 and Wenzel’s personal best in the shot put is 29-11.
“Our captains are skilled leaders who are energetic and motivating,’’ Conner said. “Taylor has good technique and form in the hurdles and high jump. Parousia has excellent endurance, is strong and fast while Sarah relies on strength and coordination.’’
Three sophomores who’ll play key roles include Morgan Kane (100, 200, high jump),
Sara Schildwachter (200, 4x100) and Ciara Moynihan (400, 4x400). Kane’s personal best in the 100 is 13.2 seconds; Schildwachter’s best is a 26.93 in the 200 and Moynihan’s has run the 400 in 1:00.10.
“Morgan is one of our hardest workers, and she’s very focused,’’ Conner said. “Her speed is excellent, and she’s effective out of the blocks. Sara has speed and is a disciplined runner. Quick out of the blocks, she continues to improve as she transitions to the 400. Ciara anchors our 4x400 relay. She’s got good form, a long stride and speed and endurance.’’
Senior Theresa Cerullo has achieved a personal best of 109-1 in the javelin and she also throws the discus. “Theresa is tall, strong and has very good technique and footwork,’’ Conner noted. “A hard-worker, she’s improved because of strength training and getting off-season coaching.’’
Rounding out Millis’ nucleus are juniors Julia Krauss (800, 4x400), Katie Malewicz (200, 400, 4x400) and Lucy Clayton (mile, 800). Krauss’ personal best in the 800 is 2:30.63; Malewicz has run the 200 in 26.3 seconds and her best in the 400 is 1:01 while Clayton’s best time in the mile is 5:30.
“Julia gives 100 percent in every meet and she’s very positive,’’ Conner said. “A strong runner, she’s got good endurance. Katie is very motivated and loves to compete. Always focused, she’s got speed. Lucy is strong, she’s got endurance and her form is good. She likes to jump out early ahead of the pack and maintain a strong pace.’’
Five of the girls enjoyed success in post-season events last year. The 4x400 relay team (Malewicz, Krauss, Cruz and Moynihan) captured first place in the Division 4 State Meet in a time of 4:07.18 and advanced to the All State Meet. Cerullo placed second in the javelin (104-11) and sixth in the discus, moving on to the All States and the Nationals.
When Conner, who also coaches girls indoor track and boys and girls cross-country, worked in Millis as an art teacher, she was able to recruit candidates. But, now working as an art instructor at the Medway Middle School, her focus to add recruits is by word-of-mouth.
“I no longer teach at Millis, but when I was, I asked every student who wasn’t involved with a sport to try cross-country or track,’’ she noted. “Now, the kids who run for me are doing some recruiting. They ask their friends to try out or stress how good it is to be part of a successful program. One beautiful aspect of track is that it offers a chance to star as individuals while also helping the team achieve success.’’
A graduate of Fitchburg State, Conner is working on her masters at Framingham State in art education. A miler at Ashland, she ran her first marathon this year, competing for the Hale Reservation in Westwood, an organization that conducts summer programs and camps for underprivileged children.
Conner’s coaching philosophy focuses on competing to win, reaching one’s potential and enjoying track. “Valuable life lessons can be learned from athletics, like setting goals and overcoming adversity,’’ she noted. “Working together is a good real-life lesson and it usually leads to success.’’
That formula sure has worked at Millis in spite of the girls running all their meets at their opponents’ tracks. “Our track is gravel and not regulation size,’’ Conner said. “We have no home-court advantage, and bus rides sometimes get tiresome. We often wonder just how good we could be if we had meets at our own track and how many fans we’d attract.’’
No home meets is an adversity that obviously makes the Millis girls a close-knit and ultra-determined track squad.
Issue Date:
May, 2017
Article Body:
Column: