NTL TRACK & FIELD: TOWANDA BOASTS PLENTY OF NEW FACES THIS SEASON (2023-03-26)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
The past two years Towanda’s Anna Dunn has ended the season on the state podium thanks to their 4x400 relay. She’s hoping to get there this year, but it will likely as an individual.

“I’m have some pretty big things that I’m looking forward to this season,” Dunn said. “I started training for this season right after soccer ended, so hopefully I’m well prepared.”

Dunn qualified for states in the 400 last year, taking 14h overall, while their 4x100 relay also made states, taking 21st. However everybody but Dunn is gone from both relays, so she’s going to expand her wings a little bit, and try the 800.

“I’m hoping I’ll like that but I’m still going to stick with the 400 being my main event,” Dunn said. “I never knew a lot about the 800 so I think I’m just going to run it and see how it goals.”

She was third in the 400 a year ago as Wyalusing’s Olivia Haley gutted out the title. The top seven in the district all return this year, meaning it’ll be as competitive as alway.

“It’s really one of my goals this year is to win districts,” said Dunn. 

She’s also holding out hope that they can get a relay together that can be competitive.

“I’m really, really have been missing the girls from last year,” said Dunn. “But all the new freshmen that have come up are really talented, I think we’re going to have some pretty good relays this year.”

Coach Mark Vail will certainly have his pick when it comes to both teams as they have good numbers across the board.

“To be honest with you we haven’t had this big of a group in the last five, six years,” said Vail. “I think the girls are going to have a really nice season.”

They were fourth at the NTL Championships a year ago, and, while they have quite a few placers to replace, Vail is excited about the newcomers.

“The Larson girl is going to be a big part of our team,” he said. “We’ve got a young lady named Melody Hakes to come out from basketball, I think she’s going to do well. Brynn Woodruff I think is going to do well for us, along with Kennedy Heyer. Then we have the Blokzyl girls, who doesn’t even look like she missed a beat from the hurdles last year. She looks faster than she did last year, already, so I’m pretty excited about things for the young ladies.”

Izzy Larson qualified for states in cross-country this past fall as a freshman but a stress fracture kept her from running at Hershey, so it’s no wonder she’s ready to get going.

“I’m ready to start racing,” said Larson.

She did some winter track to help get her back into shape as she focuses on the mile and 2-mile.

“Hopefully I can make it to states and actually run,” Larson remarked. “I’m hoping to get my mile time at least down to 5:20, I’m not sure about my 2-mile time yet.”

She’s been doing two workouts a week along with keeping her mileage up.

“The district race gave me a lot of confidence, and it made me excited for track knowing that I can prepare me for my events,” Larson said.

If everything hits they could be in the running for a league title.

“They’re always going to be tough, you really never know what you have until the end of the year, so we’re going to do our best,” said Vail.

It was a tough year for the Towanda boys last year, and they lost their one state qualifier to graduation. Still, with high numbers Vail sees potential for the group this season.

“We’ve got some nice young boys who are going to make some noice and do very well by the end of the year,” he said. “There’s a lot more unknowns there.”

ROSTER

GIRLS

Kylee Barnes

Katelyn Blokzyl

Lylah Bride

Gretchen Brown

Kiara Carson

Averie Cook

Brook De Le Ree

Anna Dunn

Willow Dymond

Karis Flynn

Melody Hakes

Molly Hance

Kennedy Heyer

Summer Hunsinger

Nozila Ismailova

Gracie Johnson

Hannah kinner

Alexiana Lamphere

Isabella Larson

Deztine Matthews

Marin Maynard

Mya Maynard

Cheyenne Morgan

Kaitlyn Nonnemacher

Jillian Roberts

Allexys Roberts

Lilyann Sproule

Aislyn Strange

Angelina Tavani

Brielle Vargason

Adalet Wecker

Bryn Woodruff

BOYS

Jeremy Arrieta

Aaden Blokzyl

Kenneth Carle

Jacob Carr

Nolan Deacon

Joseph Diaz

Joseph Dzurinko

Varrius Farrell

Jayden Fassett

Chase Fransico

Jackson Fredercik

Markell Garner

Jace Gunther

Jevon Gunther

Kole Heyer

Brennick Lain

Alex Lantz

Zachary Lantz

Matthias Lindquist

Sean Lauber

Jonah Lowell

Kolton McPeak

Calogero Mignano

Vincenzo Mignano

Joel Pelachik

Brayden Pratt

Xander Pratt

Anthony Rifenbark

Dillon Sbragia

Benjamin Shrawder

LucasCarter Smiley

Haydan Snell

Carter Stanton

Hayden Space

Jaydon Stranger

Wyatt Stranger

Lake Strickland

Trey Torres

Jason Valdez

Joseph Weinman

Brayden West

Kahne Williamson

AJ Young

SCHEDULE

Mar. 26 at Athens with Sayre, 4 p.m.

April 2 at Canton, with NEB, Williamson, 4 p.m.

April 9 vs Wellsboro, Troy, 4 p.m.

April 16 at Troy with NPM, 4 p.m.

April 23 vs Montgomery, NPM, NEB, Wyalusing, 4 p.m.

April 26 at Lasagna Invitational, 3 p.m.

April 30 vs Athens, NPM, 4 p.m.

May 10 at NTL Championships (Athens), 1:30 p.m.

May 16 at District IV Championships, 5 p.m.

May 18 at District IV Championships, 9 a.m.

May 24 at PIAA Championships

May 25 at PIAA Championships