IN THE NEWS: Most of Mount Winter Track Back After No Season in 2020-21

CALDWELL – The Mount St. Dominic Academy winter track team will compete for the first time since the 2019-20 season.

“Due to COVID, there was no formal indoor track season,” said Mike Vigil, who begins his third non-consecutive season as winter track head coach and eighth year as a track coach.

“Our spring team fielded about 25 athletes, several of whom qualified for the Essex County Championships. We had one athlete break the school record in the 100m and qualify for the state Meet of Champions in the 100m and 200m. Our 3,200m relay and distance medley relay teams won their Super Essex Conference division championships.”

Most of the team is back this year. “We lost one key senior mid-distance runner,” he said. “Otherwise, the majority of our varsity athletes are back this year as predominantly juniors and seniors.”

There are three seniors: Gianna Mangili, a sprinter who has been on the team for three years; Juliana Herbst, a distance athlete who has been on the team for four years; and Victoria Wall, a first-year indoor track athlete who ran three years on the cross country team.

“Gianna broke our 100m school record last spring and qualified for the Meet of Champions in the 100m and 200m. We are looking for key contributions from her in the 55m, 200m and sprint relays this winter,” Vigil said.

“Juliana had a breakout cross country season this fall and ran personal bests in the 800, 1600 and 3200-meter runs last spring. We are looking for her to be a significant contributor to our 4x800-meter and distance medley relay teams. Victoria looks to be a multifaceted athlete for our winter squad and will make key contributions to our 4x800-meter and distance medley relay teams.”

Newcomers freshman Isabella Dressler and junior Keira Carbone also are expected to contribute.

“Isabella Dressler ended our cross country season as our consistent second/third runner, and we are looking for key contributions from Isabella on our distance medley relay teams as well as individually in the 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs,” the coach said.

“Keira Carbone competed in spring track, but this is her first winter season. She comes in with a personal-best throw of just over 30 feet in the shotput and looks to be a strong contributor to our indoor throws program.”

The team’s goal is to place in the Essex County Relays and to qualify for state and regional championships, he said.

“We are looking to have a solid group of contributors who will carry our team into the spring season. Specifically, we would like to place our sprint relay, distance medley, 800-meter relay and shotput teams in the top three at county relays. We would also like to have a handful of qualifiers for the state Meet of Champions and Eastern States Championships in addition to Gianna.”

The team is facing a few challenges this season.

“COVID restrictions, of course, are a challenge. Dealing with the various requirements of facilities that we compete in, especially given that the meets are indoors,” Vigil said.

The Lions will start the season by competing in the Essex County Season Opener Invitational on Friday, Dec. 17.