By ROBERT LINNEHAN
The Haddonfield Bulldogs girl’s track and field program is consistently one of the strongest sports programs in Haddonfield Memorial High School from year to year.
In 2010 the spring program captured a Colonial Conference Championship by going undefeated against all Colonial Conference teams. Head Coach Jason Russo said there is no reason why the squad can’t compete for another championship and can’t make a deep run into the 2011 NJSIAA tournament.
Russo is again joined this season by assistant coaches Brennan Coughlin and Kathleen Coughlin.
The girls will open their season on Saturday, April 2 at the Camden and Gloucester County Relays. The event is held at Pennsauken High School and will begin at 9 a.m.
Russo took some time to speak with The Haddonfield Sun and to give us an idea of what he thinks the keys will be for this year’s season. The Sun’s questions are below in bold with Russo’s answers underneath.
What was your record last year? What was your conference record?
11–0 last year, 11–0 in the conference.
How many returning starters do you have this year? Any younger kids that you’re looking at to make a big contribution this season?
We have most of our team back from last year, of course without the seniors, Marielle Hall in particular.
Several of the young ladies like Emily Carson who ran the 100m, Megan Johnston who ran the 400m, javelin thrower Katie Johnston, Lisa Bailey, Maddy McAdams, Olivia Blaber, and Mia Spinelli all contributed points to the team in the state meet last year.
What are going to be the keys to the teams success this season?
We need to remain healthy and focused. I believe that more we compete, the stronger we will get. We’re a young team that will need to compete to realize our true potential.
Please give me some comments on your team, what you’re expecting this year, what you’re looking for, etc. etc. etc. Basically you can tell me anything you’d like to about your team here.
I am expecting that we will be extremely competitive in the conference, at the sectional level and even at the state level this season. We have some spectacular athletes and quite a bit of depth.
