WS Track races to Nationals
Winter team racks up wins against strong competition
Second, fourth, ninth, and two tenth place finishes at New Balance Indoor Track Nationals makes for one happy (and quick) WS track team.
New Balance Indoor Nationals was held in NYC this winter, with runners from all over the country coming to compete against the most elite high school athletes. 14 of our own Spartans were there.
Seniors John Amann, Billy Rabil, Joey Spaziani, and Michael Stormo competed in the 4×800 meter run, where they finished with a time of 8:08.2.
“We were disappointed with our Nationals race after running eight flat with a fifth place All-State performance at States,” said Stormo.
It was the boys first time racing at Indoor Nationals, and because they are all seniors, it was their last indoor track high school race.
“It was bittersweet,” said Stormo, “but we look forward to next season.”
The girls Distance Medley Relay with senior Maddie Wittich running the 1200 meter leg, juniors Katie Kennedy running the 800 meter leg and Caroline Alcorta running the 1600 meter leg, and freshman Reagan Bustamante running the 400 leg finished second in the nation.
“They hold themselves to very high standards,” said their coach Chris Pellegrini of the girl’s DMR, “after their race they had to be reminded that they were National runner-ups, and then they were happy.”
The boy’s 4×200 meter relay broke the WS school record with a time of 1:33.3, with seniors Jonathan Dunn, Robert Tobias, Nathan Conquest, and junior John Seals running each of the four legs.
“We were all excited to run, and the big stage with lots of people helped,” said Dunn.
Alcorta ran the 3200 meter run (the 2 mile) in addition to the DMR, where she finished fourth. To prepare for this grueling distance race, she ran 35-40 miles a week, training with WS teammates during the week and with girls from rival schools on the weekends.
“We all bonded over Caroline Alcorta’s outstanding fourth place finish,” said Rabil.
Two WS freshmen, Owen Buck and Regan Bustamante, raced in the Freshman 400, where Buck finished tenth and Bustamante finished 14th.
The opportunity to run at Nationals is an experience not to be forgotten, and our Spartans will be reminiscing about their races for a long time to come.
“The meet atmosphere was unlike any other meet,” said Stormo.
