Boardman girls track team competing indoors to prepare for outdoor season

The Boardman girls track team has been thinking spring this winter.

About 50 members of the team, which has been practicing since early December, have been competing in the indoor season, which is sanctioned by the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches Association.

“We use the indoor season as a conditioning phase for our outdoor team. We encourage girls to be in other winter sports but if they aren’t, they have the opportunity to work out with the indoor team,” said head coach Denise Gorski.

“I highly compliment every girl who participates in the indoor season, because there are no letters earned or banquet at the end of the season. They are doing it for the same reason the coaching staff is — on a strictly voluntary basis and to make our outdoor team as strong as it can be.”

On Feb. 21, several members attended the Kent State indoor meet.

The 4x800 meter relay team placed third with a time of 10:53.9. The team consisted of Colleen Kratofil, Katie Heney, Lauren DeLuca and Kristie Stoll.

The 4x200 meter relay team ran 1:56.42 to place seventh and included Nicole Biagetti, Lesley Koch, Nicole Vlad and Jionna Bodrick.

Katie Heney came back in the 3200-meter run and placed eighth with a 12:11.41. Colleen Kratofil took ninth in the 800 meters with a time of 2:40.32.

Last Saturday, the girls traveled to Kent State for their second indoor meet of the season.

Senior Valerie Hood had an indoor career-best toss of 37-9 in the shot put to finish third. Biagetti had a career-best in the long jump with 16-5.5 and finished fifth.

Junior Katie Heney ran a season-best time of 12:05.43 to place sixth in the 3200.

A total of 23 girls from the Boardman team competed in this meet.

The top 16 girls in each event across the state will qualify to the indoor championships March 20.

The state compiles a list of the top 25 and then the top 16 at the end of the season advance to the final competition.

At the present time, four Boardman girls are listed in this top list, including junior Nicole Vlad in the 60-meter hurdles, junior Katie Heney in the 3200, senior Valerie Hood in the shot put and senior Nicole Biagetti in the long jump.