BHS Track Teams Have the Talent for Success
By KEN HAMWEY,
Bulletin Sports Writer
The Bellingham High boys’ and girls’ indoor track teams finished 1-4 in Tri Valley League meets last year. But, if coach Sam Cowell’s goals are realized, don’t expect a repeat of those numbers.
“My goal for this season is for each team to achieve a winning record,’’ said Cowell, who’s in his third year at the helm. “I also want our athletes to continually improve on their personal records and I want to increase our team’s presence at the Division 5 Championship Meet. Realistically, I believe we can send 5-10 of our athletes to the championship meet.’’
The 47-year-old Cowell, who also coaches field hockey and outdoor track at the middle school, is impressed with his cast of competitors.
“We’ve got excellent athletes,’’ he said. “They’re extremely coachable and eager to learn and improve. We also have a great group of seniors to mentor our younger athletes. Our sprinters are young and talented. I expect to see some of our individual and relay records to be broken this year.
“Our distance runners are also young and talented. They’re dedicated and fresh off the renaissance of the cross-country program under TJ Chiappone’s leadership. Working hard to improve their stamina and speed, the future is bright for our distance program.’’
Cowell likes some new talent that’s joined the team. “Jack Taylor is a proven distance runner from the outdoor squad who’s running indoors for his first time as a senior,’’ Cowell offered. “Bryan De Almeida and Trista Corshia are promising athletes joining the team for the first time.’’
Cowell has a high caliber of assistant coaches. “It’s a terrific group,’’ he noted. “John Pendlebury returns to work with the throwers and high jumpers; Travis Hites returns for his second season working with the sprinters; and Peter Lacasse (outdoor head coach) works with our hurdlers.’’
“I want to see each athlete reach their greatest potential while putting the team first,’’ Cowell emphasized. “I hope each member takes pride in wearing a Bellingham uniform and being part of the history and legacy of BHS athletics.’’
At the Bulletin deadline, both the boys’ and girls’ teams were 0-1 after facing Norton in their opening meets. The girls lost, 54-41, and the boys fell short by a point, 47-46.
Following is a thumbnail look at the teams and comments from Cowell.
CAPTAINS
*Sydney Bashford (senior) competes in the 55-meter hurdles and long jump. Her personal best in the hurdles is 11.20 seconds, and her long-jump best is 12, feet, 3 inches. She lettered as a junior and scored six points.
“Sydney is a great mentor to young athletes. She’s dedicated and is a compassionate leader who’s eager to give her teammates the caring mentorship that she received as a younger athlete. Sydney will work to improve her three-step technique in the hurdles.”
*Gabe Egan (senior) competes in the 55-meter dash, 300-meter dash, and long jump. His personal bests are 7.05 seconds in the 55-meter dash; 39.24 seconds in the 300-meter dash; and 17 feet, 5 inches in the long jump. He scored 26 points as a junior and is a two-time TVL all-star.
“Gabe is a superb athlete and a natural leader. Since he was a sophomore, teammates have gravitated to him because he gives 100 percent in every practice and is humble in his achievements. Gabe’s goals are to go sub-7 seconds in the 55-meter dash and compete in the Division 5 Championship.’’
*Alannah Doyle (junior) competes in the shot put. Her personal best is 26 feet, 1.75 inches. She scored 17 points as a sophomore.
“Alannah is our leader for both boys’ and girls’ throwers. She will provide leadership for a big throwing group. Alannah is a dedicated thrower and a great asset to the program for her talent, commitment to perfecting her technique, and natural leadership. She’s working on utilizing the rotational technique, which should dramatically improve her distance.’’
*Emma Smith (senior) competes in middle-and-long distance events. Her personal bests are 3:28.28 in the 1000-meter run; 5:55.12 in the one-mile; and 13:24.23 in the two-mile. One of the team’s top scorers last year, she had 30 points and was a TVL honorable mention all-star as a sophomore.
“Emma is coming off a strong finish to her cross-country career, where she placed 25th in the Division 3 Championship race. We have high expectations of what she can achieve in the TVL. She will likely run the 1000, one-mile, and two-mile events. Emma is a team player who is always ready to take on whatever race will benefit the team most. I expect to see Emma among the top distance runners in the league this year.’’
TOP RETURNEES
*Olivia Carney (senior) competes in the 55-meter dash and 300-meter dash. Her personal bests are 7.52 seconds in the 55-meter dash and 43.75 seconds in the 300-meter dash. She was the top scorer for the girls with 30.5 points as a junior and is a TVL all-star.
“Olivia is a phenomenal talent. She broke school records in the 100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash in outdoor track last spring, and I fully expect her to break the 55 and 300 records this year indoors. She’s been training hard in the off-season, attending a sprinter’s camp in Washington D.C. over the summer to work on her starts and sprinting technique. Olivia’s goal is to win the 55-meter dash at this year’s Division 5 Championship.’’
*Brady Carroll (senior) competes in the 55-meter dash, 300-meter dash, and long jump. His personal bests are 7.25 seconds in the 55-meter dash; 42.98 in the 300-meter dash; and 17 feet, 2.5 inches in the long jump.
“Brady started running track his junior year and made an immediate impact. He’s a great training partner for Gabe. They push each other and their sprinting teammates to maximum performance.’’
*Eli Cowell (junior) competes in the 55-meter hurdles, 600-meter run, and long jump.
His personal bests are 9.9 seconds in the 55-meter hurdles; 1:38.32 in the 600-meter dash; and 15 feet, 7.25 inches in the long jump.
“Eli is coming off a great sophomore season in outdoor track where he started to consistently approach his hurdling with a good three-step rhythm. If he can transfer that to his 55-meter hurdles this winter, he should be able to compete with the top hurdlers in the TVL.’’
*Jenna Dormady (sophomore) competes in the 600-meter run, 4x400-meter relay, and long jump. Her personal bests are 1:53.74 in the 600-meter run and 12 feet, 7.5 inches in the long jump.
“Jenna is a terrific middle-distance runner, but her greatest competitive quality is that she’s extremely versatile. She can excel in long distance, she can sprint, and she can score points in both the long jump and the high jump. Whatever we need, Jenna can step up for the team.’’
*Alyssa Gerbrands (sophomore) competes in the 55-meter dash, 300-meter dash, and high jump. Her personal bests are 55-meter dash (8.63 seconds); 300-meter dash (53.95); and high jump (4 feet, 8 inches).
“Alyssa just missed qualifying for the Division 5 Championship in the high jump during her freshman year. I expect Alyssa to jump five feet this year and be one of the top high jumpers in the TVL.’’
OTHER CONTRIBUTORS
Cowell also expects Jack Taylor (distance), Emma Carroll (sprints), Eric Mounsey (distance), TJ Poelaert (sprints), Megan Skarin (distance) and Alyssa Gerbrands (sprints and high jump) to score important points for the team
