Big Season Expected for Lenape Girls

Another big season expected for Lenape girls track

Under coach Gerald Richardson, Lenape has been one of the top girls track programs in South Jersey, and this year should be no different. Lenape went 4-0 in winning the Olympic Conference American Division. The Indians also won the Burlington County Open and finished second in last year’s South Jersey Group 4 championships, with 57 points, 10 behind winning Southern Regional.

A number of key members return, including several who were among the top six in the South Jersey championship individual events.

In the South Jersey Group 4 championships, Lenape had many key performers who are returning.

Senior Ariel Mitchell was second in the 100 meter dash (12.61 seconds) while sophomore Jasmine Staten was sixth (12.67). Mitchell and Staten were seventh and eighth respectively in the 200.

Senior Carly Pettipaw was fifth in the 400 hurdles (1:04.12). Pettipaw was also second in the 400 meters (56.96 seconds) and second in the 800 (2:15.15).

The Indians have all four runners return from their winning 4 x 400 replay: Pettipaw, junior Shannon Storms, Staten and Mitchell.

Lenape has three members back from its 4 x 800 relay that took third. They are senior Camille Franklin and sophomores Shannon Lambert and Megan Quimby.

Senior Sabrina La Rosa was fifth in the high jump (5-00.00).

Senior Samantha Maynes was sixth in the 100 hurdles (15.61), one place ahead of La Rosa (15.74).

The entire quartet returns from Lenape’s sixth place finish in the 4 x 100 relay. In addition to Maynes, the others were Storms and sophomores Lambert and Ciaron Williams. Staten was second in the long jump (17-02.50) and Storms was fifth in the pole vault (10-00.00).

Other key returnees include seniors Maeve Ryan (distance), Dahlia Bailey (sprints, hurdles), Taylor Williams (shot put) and Marissa Topolski (sprints), junior Gabby Sharp (pole vault/hurdles), and sophomore Jasmine Fuller (shot put/discus).

Williams lists sophomores Cian Williams and Dana Duffield as key newcomers.

The leader of the team will be Pettipaw. “Carly Pettipaw is one of the top runners in the state and has made her mark in Lenape Track history,” said Richardson, who owns a 43-2 record entering his ninth season guiding the Indians. “She is the ultimate team player and loves running with her teammates. Her leadership is such a key element of what she brings to the sport and our team. Her hard work and determination have made her the athlete she is today. With Carly in our line-up, we always have a winning chance.”

And that winning chance will be further aided by an experienced and deep team, one that has the ability to go one step further this season in South Jersey Group 4.

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Author: Marc Narducci