After coming close to an EIL championship trophy, the Concord Academy track and field team fell short to Portsmouth Abbey during the 2023 season. But with continuous work and guidance from Head Coach Jonathan Waldron, or JWal, the team is looking better than ever. School records across the roster. For the first time in Concord Academy Track and Field cuts were made to trim the squad down, which allows the team to have a mixed balance between experience, and prospects forming a competitive team.
In throwing, seniors James Lee ’24, Axel Bostrom ’24, Ishaan Jain ’24, and Marly Kasdon ’24 are ready to lead the young throwers in each of the three throwing events and earn decisive points for the team.
In sprints, we are looking at a mixed level of experience from the freshman, who look to set a strong team foundation, to the seniors striving to cement their legacies through titles, records, or all time best at the 100 meters.
For the distance events, the team looks solid with seniors Emerson Koch ’24, Inigo Hare ’24, and Natalie Samulka ’24 set to lead the pack. The team comes off fresh from winning the Cross Country Eastern Independent League Championships against Portsmouth Abbey who happen to be our biggest rival in other sports, but most importantly Track and Field but with distance already coming off a win against them in cross country should give a huge boost to the team as the small gap that exists between CA, and Abbey will likely fade away this season.
The other field events such as jumps and hurdles look at old and new skilled athletes joining the team. The team looks to be in great shape in all aspects but most importantly is hungry to achieve the EIls, and NEPSACs double. With the fixtures seemingly getting larger allows more improvement, and time to test the team to best prepare for the final 2 meets of the season. With the first meet being against non league schools should instill a great mindset among the athletes regardless of the outcome. Following the away meet at Belmont Hill, the team will host its league foes; Abbey at home, where we hope to be even better, as the athletes get to perform in front of the home crowd. Following the home meet there is a second home meet scheduled, which will be followed by a meet at Abbey, and then the annual meet at Andover, where the team typically sees many athletes secure a NEPSACs spot.
Personally, I believe that the track team is the best team at CA. I can speak to both perspectives as a member and a viewer. Having spent three years with the team, I always felt at home with the coaches, who are willing to teach and cultivate all sorts of talents. As a viewer I saw my friends mark some of the best ever finishes for CA. And almost every senior on the team this year has their name in the record books, be it in the javelin, discus, shot put, 4x100, 4x400, or distance.
This year’s track team is a group of winners led by winners in pursuit of a NEPSACs and EILs double-championship, which will surely set a high benchmark for the upcoming years. But indeed, records are meant to be broken, and the 100 meter dash record in particular will be the focus for many sprinters this year.