Sprinting into spring sports: Tornado Track and Field
Robert Jeffrey
Sun Sports Contributor
sports@evesun.com
NORWICH – With the presence of snow still on the ground, it’s hard to imagine that the spring sports season is upon us and that we’ll be treated to some excellent Chenango County sports action.
Being partial to the spring sports season such as track and field, baseball, softball and tennis, spring has finally sprung and it won’t be long until these baron snow wastelands which currently resemble something similar to Siberia, will be filled with the many athletes who make the spring season their number one priority.
According to Tornado head track coach Shaun Horan, there is a lot to be excited for.
“Our team goals are to win a Class B championship” said Horan, “We fell short of that last year, but feel we can compete for one again this year.”
Horan’s squad is perfectly seasoned with the right amount of established veteran athletes as well as a teaspoon of unknowns that add some deadly speed, quickness and depth to the Tornado roster.
On the girl’s side, Horan noted track newcomers such as Sarah Binelli, Halea Eaton, Taylor Hansen and a surprising senior addition of Gabby Mirabito.
Originally a softball player, Mirabito joined the track program this year after a career ending injury, toughness is one of her leading attributes and something that fits the program’s attitude.
Emily Shattuck and Caroline Stewart, both very experienced varsity athletes will once again take center stage in the sprints and jumps for the Tornado. Shattuck, who medaled at states a season ago will look to repeat for a similar finish this year. As for Stewart, after recovering from an injury this offseason, she is striving to dominate her competition once again. With a slew of sprinters such as Hailey Colabelli, Delilah Geislinger, Meghan Komendarek and Allison Mikalunas, Horan has a coach’s dream – depth, with lots and lots of depth.
As for the distance squad for the Tornado women, sophomore Nicole Jeffrey heads up a group of distance and middle-distance athletes that will only grow as the season grows. Jeffrey, owner of the 3000m record as a freshman aims to break that record again and as surely as the cherry blossoms return in spring, will be running stride for stride with other veteran runners in STAC.
Senior Liz Eddy along with freshmen Katie Gawronski bolster the distance team with added depth which should prove beneficial to the Tornado in meets throughout the season.
As for the boys team, sprinting will be a heavily priced commodity with the likes of the Tornado sprinters Eric Conant and Zack Race. This dynamic duo have been together since early November and Conant took the trip down to Long Island when Race qualified for the indoor state championships this past winter. For anyone looking for some competitive and fast times, I’d invite you to look no further than Race and Conant.
This duo is among the premier regional and state competition. Last year Race placed fifth in the state in the 200 meter dash and strives to achieve similar results this year. But it’s just not Race and Conant to look out for. David Berger, Ky’sawn Veale, Scotty Tomanocy and Connor Nial have all proved to hold their own on the track and field circuit. With the theme of depth bolstering both Tornado teams, the sprinting events will be some of the most exciting ones to watch – so don’t blink; they’ll go by fast.
As for the distance events, senior Ben Erickson seeks to continue his dominance. Erickson missed a trip to the indoor state meet this past season, but has state meet experience from back-to-back trips to the state meet in cross-country. Sophomore Gabe Gawronski will add his own flavor in the middle-distance events such as the 400m and 800m races. Freshman Noah Bufalini will follow Gawronski’s lead as both gain more varsity level race experience.
As young as they are, don’t be fooled they’ll soon be familiar in running circles across STAC.
As for the rest of the Tornado team? We’ll have to wait and see what they’re made off as the Purple Tornado have a series of surprises up their sleeve.
“We’ve got a lot of newcomers that have come out to the team that are really phenomenal, that other teams don’t know about,” said coach Horan.
With a sizable roster of 82 athletes between the two squads, added with a passionate coaching staff that is dedicated to their athletes, Horan can’t wait until spring competitions start.
With so much excitement over the spring track season starting at the NY-PA invite at Windsor High School on Saturday April 1, Horan keeps calm by saying one simple phrase.
“Just take everything one meet a time, and break down the competition.”
Will do coach, will do.
Sun Sports Contributor
sports@evesun.com
NORWICH – With the presence of snow still on the ground, it’s hard to imagine that the spring sports season is upon us and that we’ll be treated to some excellent Chenango County sports action.
Being partial to the spring sports season such as track and field, baseball, softball and tennis, spring has finally sprung and it won’t be long until these baron snow wastelands which currently resemble something similar to Siberia, will be filled with the many athletes who make the spring season their number one priority.
According to Tornado head track coach Shaun Horan, there is a lot to be excited for.
“Our team goals are to win a Class B championship” said Horan, “We fell short of that last year, but feel we can compete for one again this year.”
Horan’s squad is perfectly seasoned with the right amount of established veteran athletes as well as a teaspoon of unknowns that add some deadly speed, quickness and depth to the Tornado roster.
On the girl’s side, Horan noted track newcomers such as Sarah Binelli, Halea Eaton, Taylor Hansen and a surprising senior addition of Gabby Mirabito.
Originally a softball player, Mirabito joined the track program this year after a career ending injury, toughness is one of her leading attributes and something that fits the program’s attitude.
Emily Shattuck and Caroline Stewart, both very experienced varsity athletes will once again take center stage in the sprints and jumps for the Tornado. Shattuck, who medaled at states a season ago will look to repeat for a similar finish this year. As for Stewart, after recovering from an injury this offseason, she is striving to dominate her competition once again. With a slew of sprinters such as Hailey Colabelli, Delilah Geislinger, Meghan Komendarek and Allison Mikalunas, Horan has a coach’s dream – depth, with lots and lots of depth.
As for the distance squad for the Tornado women, sophomore Nicole Jeffrey heads up a group of distance and middle-distance athletes that will only grow as the season grows. Jeffrey, owner of the 3000m record as a freshman aims to break that record again and as surely as the cherry blossoms return in spring, will be running stride for stride with other veteran runners in STAC.
Senior Liz Eddy along with freshmen Katie Gawronski bolster the distance team with added depth which should prove beneficial to the Tornado in meets throughout the season.
As for the boys team, sprinting will be a heavily priced commodity with the likes of the Tornado sprinters Eric Conant and Zack Race. This dynamic duo have been together since early November and Conant took the trip down to Long Island when Race qualified for the indoor state championships this past winter. For anyone looking for some competitive and fast times, I’d invite you to look no further than Race and Conant.
This duo is among the premier regional and state competition. Last year Race placed fifth in the state in the 200 meter dash and strives to achieve similar results this year. But it’s just not Race and Conant to look out for. David Berger, Ky’sawn Veale, Scotty Tomanocy and Connor Nial have all proved to hold their own on the track and field circuit. With the theme of depth bolstering both Tornado teams, the sprinting events will be some of the most exciting ones to watch – so don’t blink; they’ll go by fast.
As for the distance events, senior Ben Erickson seeks to continue his dominance. Erickson missed a trip to the indoor state meet this past season, but has state meet experience from back-to-back trips to the state meet in cross-country. Sophomore Gabe Gawronski will add his own flavor in the middle-distance events such as the 400m and 800m races. Freshman Noah Bufalini will follow Gawronski’s lead as both gain more varsity level race experience.
As young as they are, don’t be fooled they’ll soon be familiar in running circles across STAC.
As for the rest of the Tornado team? We’ll have to wait and see what they’re made off as the Purple Tornado have a series of surprises up their sleeve.
“We’ve got a lot of newcomers that have come out to the team that are really phenomenal, that other teams don’t know about,” said coach Horan.
With a sizable roster of 82 athletes between the two squads, added with a passionate coaching staff that is dedicated to their athletes, Horan can’t wait until spring competitions start.
With so much excitement over the spring track season starting at the NY-PA invite at Windsor High School on Saturday April 1, Horan keeps calm by saying one simple phrase.
“Just take everything one meet a time, and break down the competition.”
Will do coach, will do.
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