Track and Field Preview: Demons Look to Up Their Ranking, Break Records

Despite the winter chill, boys and girls track and field teams are warming up for what looks to be an exciting season that will kick off this Saturday with the Medina relays.

For the boys team, their main focus is to contend for the number one ranking in the Southwestern Conference (SWC), which is comprised of eight high school teams, including Westlake, Amherst, Avon Lake, North Olmsted, Brecksville, Midpark, Berea and Olmsted falls, head coach Jake Schober said.

“Some of our biggest rivals this year will be Midpark, Amherst and North Olmsted,” he said. “We have a big group of seniors going into this season and we’re anticipating a strong sprint squad. We should also have a lot of talent in our distance events.”

Senior sprinter Adam Hamdan echoed Schober’s words as he’s eager to help the team move into the top tier of the SWC.

“We made a lot of progress last year,” he said. “Last season, we started in the lower rankings and moved up to the mid-high rankings. Now we need to take that next step and compete against the SWC’s best teams.”

Senior Alex Schultz, a pole vaulter, sprinter and long jumper, looks to go head-to-head against the SWC’s best jumpers who include athletes from Amherst and Berea high school.

As for the Lady Demons, head coach Duane Miller will rely on his star athletes to help lead the team and keep them competitive.

“For this season, the competition will be tough and we want to try and get better,” he said. “We have 60 to 70 girls out in all different abilities and levels so our major goal is see where they are now and see them improve. We tell the girls, if you get better the team gets better.”

Senior Kalpana Beach, a three-time state qualifier who was recently named Division I co-player of the year, will surely be one of the athletes who will make the team more competitive. 

“Beach is a great high jumper, a talented individual and a great athlete,” Miller said.

Captain Maddie Jenkins is eager to help lead the team and is ready to break the six minute mile.

And short to middle distance runners Stephanie Robb, 10, and Charlotte Tate, 11, are poised to break a pair of Lady Demon records this year.

“We’re looking to beat Avon Lake, Midpark and Brecksville, and individually, I want to break the 400 meter and 800 meter records. I’ll only about a half second off on each.”