Ashland Girls Track

The Ashland girls track team will competing this spring with its biggest team that Coach Chris Avery has ever had. Although the numbers are up to 42 girls, the Clockers will still be up against the best of them taking part in the Tri Valley League.
“We may have bigger number this year, but we are still the smallest school in the large division of the TVL,” the Ashland Coach said. “I’m just hoping that we can score some points and be a competitive within in the league.”
Leading the Clockers into battle this spring will be senior tri-captains Elena Pellegrini, Isabella Tirabassi and Allie Chrisafideis. In addition to obviously being role models for the younger athletes that coach is looking for her captains to continue to exemplify their strengths on the track.
Pellegrini will run the sprints (100 and 200) as well as anchoring the team’s 4 x 100 relay. Avery expects her star sprinter to return to her all state level as a runner once again this season. Pellegrini finished fifth in the 100 meter dash and third in the 200 last year in the states.
“Actually I think she may be stronger this year,” Avery said. “She had a nagging hamstring last year that would haunt her every so often.”
Tirabassi will also be running the 100 alongside Pellegrini as well as taking part in the long jump. According to her coach, the senior usually qualifies to take part in the State Tournament, but being part of a very competitive event usually doesn’t place.
Prior to the season getting underway Tirabassi was the team’s only real long jump threat. The Clockers will have some underclassmen trying the event out for the first time so Avery cannot rely on any of them as of yet; Tirabassi will not only have to take the younger kids under her win but also provide Ashland with the point scoring.
Chrisafideis, who loves to run, is the team’s distance runner taking part in both the mile and 2-mile event. The senior will also be key to training the younger distance runners for Ashland’s future.
With the talented senior captains Avery is optimistic about scoring points, but unfortunately she is a bit worried when it comes to the javelin. Having lost not only the Clockers best thrower, but one of the best in the league as well as the state in Kate Landry. Senior Heather Turner, who throw a bit last year, will be looked upon to try to make up some of those points lost to the vacancy. Turner will also run the 400 and may take a shot at the 400 hurdles.
A couple of athletes that the coach will also look to will be juniors Erin Mahan and Sabrina Reyes. Unfortunately Reyes’ contributions will not come right away as she will be sidelined a few weeks with a concussion. Mahan took part in the 55m hurdles during the winter season and will most likely take on the 100m hurdles as well as participating in the triple jump and the 4 x 100 relay this spring.
Freshman Emilia Agostinelli made a name for herself as one of the team’s top cross country runners during the fall and Avery is hoping that she’ll adapt to distance running.
“She had herself a phenomenal cross country season and I am hoping that she score some points for us during the spring,” the coach said. “I’ve yet to see her compete against high school track athletes; it’s a lot different running on a track compared though the woods.”
With the potential of talented athletes on the Clocker roster this spring Avery knows a lot of the team’s success may depend on the younger athletes.
“We know what the upperclassmen can do, it will all depend on how the newer kids fare,” Avery said. “Overall, this year may not be our best, but once these younger kids get established in their events then we should be a top tier team. The future for Ashland will be very bright.”