Girls Indoor Track Dashes to City Champs
Amber Emmanuel ‘24 (middle) runs hurdles February 13. Photo: Continental Studios
By SALOME CHACHKHUNASHVILI and ANEESA IQBAL
The girls indoor track team placed second overall at the borough championship at Harlem’s Armory Track on February 12, qualifying the girls for the city championship.
“My knees were buckling from weakness, but my heart was not,” Nora Levanthal ‘23 said. “It all pieced together as they announced our win.”
“The girls gave it their all,” said captain Kayla McCloud ‘23, adding that the win brought “empowerment and proud demeanors.”
The night before the borough championship, the team’s coach, Mr. Randall Joseph, emailed the lineup for the meet. Katherine Sell ‘23 and Levanthall were signed up for high jump. The other girls were in relays and speed walks.
It was Sell’s first ever attempt at the high jump. “I was shocked when I heard I got second place while Nora was the first out of the race,” she said.
Tysian Roache ‘23 races at Harlem’s Armory Track for the borough championships. Photo: armorytrack.com
Sometimes athletes are hit by unforeseen challenges. “I was so excited to run my relay for boroughs but I drank a nasty smoothie as my breakfast,” Lila Hans ‘23 said. “That was a mistake. Right after I ran my first relay, I barely made it to the trash can.”
This season, the girls went to Harlem twice a week to practice at the Armory Track, also going to the gym on the off days. Even when the Omicron variant got in their way of training, they did not let it discourage them.
“Covid threw me down, but the track season lifted me back up,” Levanthal said with a smile. “Covid can’t get to me; I’m too fast for it.”
The team had to adjust to precautionary guidelines. Running with masks was one difficulty. Supporting teammates while maintaining social distance was another.
But spending time at practice together almost every day allowed the girls to build a strong family-like relationship. “We suffer together, so we are able to push each other,” said Maya Kushnick ‘23.
Mr. Joseph’s leadership also played a big role in the girls’ performance, they said.
McCloud said, “We are a competitive team, and the girls lift each other to their best efforts. But none of this would be possible without the help of our amazing coach Randall Joseph and assistant coach Ayanbola Lawal.”
Though the team was unable to bring home a plaque at the City Championship, their win at Borough Champs was an encouraging step as they look forward to the outdoor season.
“Two years ago, right before Covid began, the Midwood girls scored 0 points at City Champs,” Mr. Joseph said. “[This year], we scored 17. We are certainly happy and thankful for the progress, but we're not satisfied. We look forward to more improvement in the coming months.”