Before the meets began, the Mount Mercy Track coaches were excited about their team's prospects this season.  It turned out that their expectations were realized this season as the team won three of eight meets and placed fifth at the All-Catholic Meet with the team's highest point total in many years.  The most exciting news is that the core of the team is comprised of freshmen and sophomores, so the future looks extremely bright for the track program.

                The team will lose Christina Billittier (Angola) who competed in the triple jump and the sprints for the team and Hellen Modi (Buffalo) who did the long jump and sprints for the Magic.   Although the team will lose its top two jumpers to graduation, six athletes who placed at the All-Catholic Meet will return to the track which leaves the coaching staff quite hopeful.

                FreshmanAngelina Larivey (Lackawanna) consistently earned the team points this season.  She ran the 200 and 400 meter dashes and the 4x400 and 4x800 relays, as well as the Long Jump.  "Anglina shows true dedication and puts her best effort into every single event she competes in.  She was also the only athlete who came to every single meet," Coach Nicole Mainente commented.

                Sophomore Olivia Seifert (Lakeview) will return to run the 800 meter run and compete in the relays as well.  Freshmen Gianna Lauciello (Orchard Park), Megan Reilly (Hamburg), and Rheanna Welch (Lackawanna) will also be expected to contribute next season.  Lauciello and Riley are sprinters and key parts of the relays and Welch also runs the 400 meter dash and competes in the relays. Junior Grace Willert (West Seneca) returns in the throwing events.  This year she finished third in the discus and second in the shot put at the All-Catholic meet. 

Willert, along with Billittier, qualified for the CHSAA Intersectional Meet.  Willert competed in the shot put and placed sixth with a throw of 28'5 3/4" and Billittier placed eleventh in the triple jump with a leap of 30'8 3/4".

                Coach Bob Walsh was pleased with the season and although the team will miss its seniors, he is looking forward to next season.  "Overall, I am very pleased with how the season went.  The girls worked hard and continued to improve throughout the season.  It all paid off, especially at yhr All-Catholic Meet. I am excited to work with the girls again next year and see them meet new goals." Mainente remarked.

                "I am especially proud of the 4x400 relay of Seifert, Reilly, Welsh, and Larivey.  They continued to drop their times at every meet and ended up dropping 30 seconds in total, finishing third at the All-Catholics placing third with a time of 4:37.  They showed up ready to compete and gave it their all.  I think they shocked not only themselves but also the other teams as well," Mainente concluded.