With a new yet experienced coach and a crop of talented young athletes, Justin Soucy foresees the 2008 track and field season as one of growth, development and, of course, success. Jen Jaquith joins Soucy as Pythons coach this year.

With 10 years of coaching experience, some at Concord High School, Jaquith primarily mentors the sprinters, throwers and jumpers. Soucy, in his fifth year as track and field coach, focuses on the distance runners.

Soucy said there are many freshmen and sophomores on this year’s team, and he’s hoping to have several either qualify for states and/or exhibit their potential by season’s end.

“We’re working on depth, and not just in the running events, but the field events as well,” said Jaquith. “We have a lot of young kids taking their rolls on and doing well. The big thing is we’re increasing respect. I mean, it seems that we have somebody who can place in just about any event this year, and from a young team, that’s exciting to see.”

Boys
Senior Andrew Ridlon and juniors Bruce Vieira and Todd Paquin lead a youthful boys squad.

Vieira, an all-state football star, is a strong all-around athlete focused on sprinting and relays, said Jaquith. He’s also working on shot put.

Ridlon, who finished fourth in the indoor 1,500- meter run at states, wants to carry that momentum to the outdoor season, said Soucy.

Paquin, experienced in the long jump, is also excelling in the 300-meter hurdles and recently tried the triple jump for the first time. He has already met state qualifying triple-jump standards, said Jaquith.

Sophomore Coner Mc- Colgan, in his first season as a track and field athlete, is gaining experience in the high jump, triple jump and 400- meter dash.

Also competing for the first time is Bill Helliwell, who competes in all three throwing events – javelin, shot put and discus.

Girls
Freshman Kelsi Lynde is “smoking” the 100- and 300- meter hurdles, said Jaquith, and senior Leanne Cann, she added, has looked great in the shot put and is quickly picking up high jump.

Seniors Rachel Notini and Stephanie Burke, both past state qualifiers, run the 1,600 and 800. Emily Spognardi, Jordyn Oriole and Shannon Oriole are expected to compete in long distances as well.

• • •

At a nine-team meet hosted by Pelham on Saturday, April 12, the boys finished sixth with 45.75 points and the girls placed eighth with 36.66 points.

Cameron Robidoux tied for third with Vieira in the 100-meter dash. Robidoux also tied for third in the 200; Viera placed fifth.

Paquin took second in long jump and triple jump and fourth in the 300 hurdles. Mark Riddinger scored points in high jump. Robidoux, Riddinger, Paquin and Vieira took fifth in the 4x100-meter relay.

For the girls, Lynde won the 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles and came in eighth in long jump.

Shannon Oriole placed fourth in the 800-meter run, and Jordyn Oriole earned fourth in the 1,600, where Spognardi took eighth.

Cann placed seventh in high jump.

Both Orioles, Spognardi and Kelsi Lynde finished fourth in the 4x100 relay.