NORTHAMPTON — Beyonce’s “Crazy in Love” blasted through the speaker as Northampton girls track & field coach Ryan Davis led his team in a series of workouts last month.
Gathered in a circle with Davis in the center, the girls struggled through a push-up routine. They lowered their bodies to the ground then, using all the strength in their chest and triceps, they straightened their arms. Next, in synchronicity the team slid to the right while still in push-up position, shifting the entire circle.
After an undefeated indoor season, the expectations for the spring are sky high.
“We’re looking to do what we did in indoor — try to go undefeated, get that Western Mass. title, show up at states, get a bunch of girls to New England’s. High hopes for everyone for sure,” Davis said.
Senior Sierra Loomis will be one of the team’s leaders and will focus on the 400-meter hurdles throughout the season.
“I think we can go pretty far,” Loomis said. “I think the goal is always to make states or New England’s. Last year we went to nationals, so that’s always a good goal, to qualify for nationals.”
The Blue Devils have a number of returners from cross country and indoor track. However, some outdoor runners hit the pool in the winter and participated in swimming.
“I know from being a tri-athlete, swimming is a really good supplemental workout,” Davis said. “They all worked really hard and got in touch with me as soon as swimming ended so they could get in some preseason workouts.”
Getting in touch has been a key for Davis in his first year as the girls track coach. He prides himself on organization, communication and planning practices and workouts has worked really well for his athletes.
“I’ve gotten to know him through indoor,” Loomis said. “He’s really organized and I think he’s going to be good for the team. He keeps everyone together and makes us work hard.”
Loomis has been pushing herself for her final season. She has been doing longer workouts to stay in shape to be able to compete at a high level throughout the season. She described the workouts as a challenge, but fully expects the work to pay off.
Along with hurdles, Loomis competes in the long jump. In February, at the state Division 4 indoor track championships, the senior claimed first place leaping 17 feet, 1 inch.
Northampton will have some competition this season, as Amherst brings back a number of athletes.
South Hadley, despite graduating a class of 14 seniors, looks to have reloaded its talent. The Tigers finished second at the Western Mass. Division 2 Championships last season.
Davis was confident in his Blue Devils.
“I think other teams need to look out,” he said. “We’re running strong and working hard.”
GIRLS TRACK & FIELD
Amherst Regional
COACH: Chris Gould, third year
LEAGUE: Valley League
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 6-2
2015 WEST/CENTRAL DIVISION 1 MEET: Third
ATHLETES: Seniors — Ariel Christie, Frances Duncan, Eva Feyre Febonio, Rachel Guisti; Juniors — Jalessia Austin, Julianna Bowen, Theresa Nguyen, Milka Mupompa, Sidilene Pereira da Veiga, Lydia Sawyer, Maria Wehrli; Sophomores — Claire Basler-Chang, Haadiyah Cruz, Sophia Fang, Samantha Hall-Wills, Audrey Herland, Aleeza Kropf, Kayla Krumrey, Catherine Larson, Abeliz Lebron Colon, Anaviah Oliver-Clemons, Amina Torres, Rebekah Wilson; Freshmen — Alice Adams-Nice, Cady Bestor, Mae Hsu, Sophia Jacobs-Townsley, Abigail Kamara, Shihanna Maradiaga, Andrea Morehouse, Yacine Norris-Fall, Pearl Tulay.
OUTLOOK: Amherst expects to have strong distance runners in Duncan, Jacobs-Townsley and Sawyer, as well as an experienced sprint group led by Torres, Pereira da Veiga and Krumrey. The Hurricanes will look to improve in the pole vault and high jump.
Belchertown
COACH: Bob Ritz, first year
LEAGUE: Suburban
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 0-6
2015 WEST/CENTRAL DIVISION 1 MEET: 26th
RETURNING ATHLETES: Tatyana Almore, Rebecca Brozek, Adriana Czarniecki, Jordan Gamache, Marion Graves, Riley Lynch, Audra Hale, Maddi Perkins, Emilie Roda, Marissa Shaw, Savannah Wojcik, Sabrina Wieczorek, Dagmara Krotki, Gabrielle Wenc.
NEWCOMERS: Maya Billingsley, Sam Birks, Franziska Bright, Lydia Funk, Abigail Gelinas, Erin Kandor, Ashley McNamara, Natalie Nganga, Stephanie Thrasher, Mary Zona.
OUTLOOK: Shaw will look to continue an impressive career for the Orioles. Last season she qualified in the 200, 400, long jump and high jump for the West/Central meet. She made All-States in the long jump.
Frontier Regional
COACH: Bob Smith, 37th year
LEAGUE: Suburban
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 6-0
2015 WEST/CENTRAL DIVISION 2 MEET: Second
RETURNING ATHLETES: Seniors — Zoe Barker, Caitlin Burnett, Katt Conlisk, Sarah Conlisk, Katherine Miner, Megan-Grace Slocombe, Katherine Burke, Emily Wood, Grettle Allis, Remi Quesnelle, Izzy Contois, Alexandra Fitzgibbons; Juniors — Lisa Portier, Jaime Byrne, Olivia Warren; Sophomores — Sage Bourbeau, Greyson Young, Lilli Powers; Freshmen — Meghan Waldron, Rachel Skribiski, Ivy Shattuck, Paige Moriarty, Jenna Martin, Emily Laus, Eleanor Klitzke, Fiona Ferry, Paige Eddy, Carleigh Clark, Marisela Ackerman, Alicia Hancock, Elizabeth Fuqua; Eighth grade — Evelyn Boyden, Meaghan Cohoon, Coriann Delaney, Zoe Demko, Kate Hickey, Adrienne Josephs, Alexa Kassis, Sam Lamere, Claudia Rajballie, Abby Sampson, Alina Smiarowski, Jalen Sullivan, Lia Vichi, Annika Voorheis
NEWCOMERS: Sophomores — Lexi Noga, Aleyha Johnson, Maddie Braverman; Eighth Grade — Grace Lee, Kimani Topolski-Burgess, Maddie Sevarino; Seventh grade — Alyson, Barnes, Skyler Dennie, Malia Hanes, Reilly Isler, Maddy Leone, Mackenzie Pion, Hannah Ravish, Sofia Rossi, Kate Swasey, Eliza Voorheis, Kaleigh Wissmann, Heavyn Woods, Kensington Young
OUTLOOK: After graduating six seniors and finishing first at the District F&G Division 2 championship, the Red Hawks are optimistic about the 2016 season. With strong leadership from the senior class, Frontier expects to excel in the jumps and sprints. Miner advance to the national championship meet in the high jump last season.
Hampshire Regional
COACH: Gary Welch, eighth year
LEAGUE: Suburban
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 4-2
2015 WEST/CENTRAL DIVISION 2 MEET: 20th
RETURNING ATHLETES: Seniors — Taylor Blow, Ally Roessling, Emma Fields, Rachel Pierce, Olivia Webster, Elleri Wisner; Juniors — Melissa Gagnon, Hanna Griswold, Camille Jasiorkowski, Haley Marek, Natasha Neveue, Meaghan Reardon, Sarah Rogers, Abigail Touchet, Jordan Wytrych; Sophomores — Sophia Prouty, Charlotte Reynolds; Freshmen — Grace Chartier, Hannah Labrie; Eighth grade — Emma Barnes, Annie Curran, Mary Elias-Gillette, Chloe Prouty, Lily Roscher, Kaitlyn Schott.
NEWCOMERS: Senior — Delaney Reynolds; Sophomore — Lily Hakkarainen; Freshmen — Sarah Constantine, Sophia Kubosiak, Emma Kuntz, Carley Stenson; Eighth grade — Fiona Bulman, Amelia Craig, Natalie Lussier, Samantha Payson, Ruby Phelps, Jenny Pike; Seventh grade — Morgan Dunham, Katelyn Dunn, Madeline Jenkins, Madelyn Lustenberger, Delaney Marek, Kaylie Novak, Jessie Paradis-Stern, Caitlin Reardon, Eliza Reynolds, Erin Reynolds, Jocelyn Salomao, Jillian Scott.
OUTLOOK: The veteran-heavy Raiders will look to build off of last year’s performances. The team is deep with distance runners Blow, Roessling, Charlotte Reynolds and Sophia Prouty. Blow was the PVIAC and Western Massachusetts Division 2 cross country champion.
Northampton
COACH: Ryan Davis, first year
LEAGUE: Valley League
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 3-2
2015 WEST/CENTRAL DIVISION 1 MEET: Second
RETURNING ATHLETES: Seniors — Erica Dean, Stephanie Jordan, Sierra Loomis, Rachel Moeller, Abigail Springfield, Alison Woodring, Tori LaVerdiere; Juniors — Mairead Blanter, Scarlet Sands Bliss, Evelyn Burke, Ava Cronk, Jemma Fisher, Maya Grindrod, Maddie Illingsworth, Nicole Jablon, Nadia Kamel, Leila Markosian, Lauren Munster, Sophia Renauld, Gretchen Saveson; Sophomores — Madeline Etzel, Maya Evans, Danielle Parent, Camille Porter-Phillips, Carolyn Revelo, Alliyah Sharpe, Nevia Steere, Haleigh Wojnar, Emma Yount.
NEWCOMERS: Freshmen — Rosie Ingmann, Sophie Miller, Talia Feldman-Schwartz, Nandini Patel, Meika Paulsen, Devon Peterson, Anna Stiles, Emilia Tamayo, Emma Harder, Danielle Jordan, Hannalise Rivera-Lovett.
OUTLOOK: After an undefeated winter season, the Blue Devils look to carry the momentum into the spring. Loomis will lock down the 400 hurdles, while Davis expects Harder to make some noise in the 100-meter.
South Hadley
COACH: Luke Archambault, second year
LEAGUE: Pioneer League
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 3-4
2015 WEST/CENTRAL DIVISION 1 MEET: 15th
RETURNING ATHLETES: Seniors — Katie Evans, Mackenzie Werenski, Jackie Doyle, Nicole Descheneaux; Juniors — Ally Labarre, Kate O’Neill, Sarah Shea, Carolyn Watkins; Sophomores — Sarah Fudger, Emma Courtney, Kaylyn Labrecque.
NEWCOMERS: Senior — Shannon Griffin; Juniors — Sophie Gatzounas, Krya Schoenfeld, Marissa Tucker; Sophomores — Allison Bergeron, Eilis Hellyar, Jill Ayers, Rayell Matias, Jade McCallum; Freshmen — Alicia Bullough, Mckenzie Butzer, Abbie Carey, Kayla Carleton, Taylor Gelinas, Anna Moriarty, Emma Rahilly, Jocelyn Rondeau, Savannah Sudieka, Ajanai Lopez, Mia Kelly.
OUTLOOK: After graduating 14 seniors and sending a number of athletes to colleges across the state, the Tigers revamp with a mix of veteran and young talent. Rondeau will hope to carry the momentum from the indoor season after placing fifth in the mile and 1,000 at the state meet. Schoenfeld and Fudger also will look to compete at the state level.