District Meet an Indication on Girls Track Season

By: Ed Weaver  /  May 20, 2013

In the past, the Wellsboro Girls's track team was built around the outstanding individual success of a few standout athletes. This year, the team had to rely on their overall team depth. Saturday's 4th place finish at the District IV Championship Meet was no different.

"Mansfield University was a good example (of the depth of the team) we only won one event there, but we nickeled and dimed people, which wasn't our style in the past. It was a different way of winning since I've got here. It was almost more satisfying since it was more a team effort and more girls had to pitch in," said head coach Jeff Zuchowski.

No group epitomized this nickel and dime strategy more than the Senior group of Jessie Catherman, Becky Chambers, Kimberly Acorn, Randi Grim, Mackenzie Marple, Hannah Zuchowski, Franciszka Lupkowski, and Sarah Kramer.

"It's going to be difficult to feel these girls shoes because they did so much for us," Zuchowski said.

Zuchowski went on to say that all of these girls could have focused on individual events more but they always did what was best for the team. However, one individual did stand out for the Lady Hornets today on Saturday.

Freshman Jada Jackson kept the streak alive of the Lady Hornets traveling to the state meet, extending the streak to seven years in a row. Jackson qualified in the 400m run with a 2nd place finish of 59.95 and the triple jump with a 2nd place finish of 35" 8.75".

"It feels fantastic," Jackson said. "I have wanted to go so bad every since I went to watch my brother. It's going to be really cool being out there and not just watching."

"We all know Jada is a great athlete but what you miss is that she still had to work hard to accomplish those goals. She (Jackson) put it all together today," Zuchowski stated.

Zuchowski also thinks that she has a chance to medal next week. 

"If she can run a low 59 (in the 400m) she has a chance to make the finals and coach John Shaffer and I were talking that if she can get in the 36 range she can medal in the triple jump."

Despite the loss of those seniors, the future is bright for the girls track team.

Lauren Bleggi, a sophomore, finished 4th in the 200m run with a time of 27.35. Couple Bleggi and Jackson with a strong returning cast, and there is a lot of potential for this team going forward.

"When these freshman are juniors and seniors we should be reloaded,"  Zuchowski concluded.