Girls track team has numbers

by Eric Keppeler
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, April 19, 2007

With more than 100 girls out for track and field this spring, depth shouldn’t be a problem for Niagara-Wheatfield girls track coach Al Pogel.

Right now, his biggest problem – especially with the weather being so uncooperative – is getting a true idea of what all of the girls are capable of. Especially the younger ones.

“It’s extremely difficult,” Pogel said. “You know what your veterans are capable of, but you really have no idea what the younger kids can do. And you know they’re going to get better as they get experience - but how much and how quickly?”

The Falcons have a solid 1-2 punch in the distance races. Senior Michele Schaffer has been a staple since her freshman year in the 3000, and she also successfully picked up the triple jump last season. Junior Ashley Beamish is a two-time Niagara Frontier League champion in the 1500, and she’s also strong in the 800.

Schaffer and Beamish also form two legs of a dominant 4x800 relay team that returns entirely, also featuring Elaina Breen and Samantha Schleicher.

The sprinters are a little younger but have tremendous potential. Key figures in the 100 and 200 are senior Jessica Fiden, sophomores Lauren Popp and Jessica Hoover and freshman Jamie Popp. The 400 is also deep with veterans Jamie Sledziewski and Madison Brown.

The Falcons are deep in the hurdles, and Pogel is hopeful that they can pick up a lot of points with their depth in these events. This group features Natalie Emmert, Alexa Gigliotti, Breanna Limina, Adele Tierney, Carly Gruarin and Erin Manning.

Pogel is still searching for the right combination of these athletes for his 4x100 and 4x400 relays. The sprinters and the 100 high hurdlers are the top contenders for the 4x100 relay, while the Sledziewski and Brown and the 400 hurdlers are in line for the 4x400 relay.

In the field events, Schaffer is solid in the triple jump, while Caitlin Barber returns in the high jump after hitting the 5-foot mark last season. Sarah Colton also will compete in the triple and high jumps. Pogel says the long jump is still wide open.

The Falcons also have veteran throwers as Jessica Hughes is back in the shot put and Chelsea Fland returns in the discus.

Freshman Emily Carl will handle the pole vaulting duties, and Sledziewski also will get a shot in that event.

The league schedule was to begin this week, although the weather has been anything but conducive to outdoor running.

Despite the cold, Pogel says that his team is in good shape and raring to go.

“It looks like we’re going to have about four weeks to get the whole season in,” Pogel said. “We don’t run indoor track, but we do have an alternative program that helps out quite a bit. There’s not much else for the girls to do over the winter except basketball and cheerleading, so most of the rest come out for this program and stay in shape.”