A love of track and field came naturally for Emily Carson.
Now a senior at Haddonfield Memorial High School, Carson, 17, is looking forward to her last spring season on the track team.
In the fall, she is heading to Notre Dame University, where she will continue participating in the sport.
“Track was just something that was there,” Carson said. “I didn’t realize the potential I had in this sport until the end of my freshman year.”
She holds the school record in the long jump, plus the 100- and 200-meter dash. She is also a high hurdler and excels in the 400-meter dash.
Recently, she won the 55-meter dash in the winter track program at Eastern States.
“It’s an unbelievable accomplishment to come in first place,” Athletic Director Lefteris Banos said.
To succeed in being a winter and spring track athlete, focus is key, Carson said.
“It definitely is tough,” she said. “It gets easier as you get better. I’m just excited for the spring now.”
Carson’s goal is to make it to states this spring, have repeat success in the long jump and nab some individual state titles.
At the beginning of the season, Jason Russo, head track coach for the spring girls team and a math teacher at the high school, sits down with the athletes and discusses goals for the team to reach, Carson said.
“We really have a strong team returning,” Russo said. “It really looks like we could potentially defend (the state title) this year.”
Track at the high school level has about 60 to 70 athletes on one team rather than the usual freshman, junior varsity and varsity ranks.
“We do have kids who primarily compete in varsity level meets,” he said. “Really, it’s all just one team.”
Track and field is distinctive from other sports, as athletes have differing skill sets dependent on their event.
“The great thing about track and field is that there are so many different opportunities for kids to compete,” he said, including throws, distant events, sprints and jumps.
Haddonfield’s athletes show complete dedication, Russo said.
“We have a lot of kids that are just very, very committed to the program,” he said. “They’re willing to put the effort into competing at a very high level consistently.”
As for Carson, she has been a mainstay in the program since her freshman year, having begun the sport in the sixth-grade.
“She’s a very strong athlete,” Russo said. “It (was) really showing at the end of this winter season.”
Plus, she has emerged as an elite sprinter, “which is pretty exceptional,” Russo said.
A need for speed propelled Carson into the sport, winning tag on the playgrounds with her friends and impressing her parents with her quickness.
“No one could ever catch me,” she said. “It just seemed natural.”
She has also played soccer and basketball, but from now on, it’s all track, all the time.
Carson isn’t looking too far ahead, though, instead deciding to “take things one step at a time.”
“See what happens,” she said.
Keep an eye on the track team.
A scrimmage will be held away against Eastern on Wednesday, March 20 beginning at 4 p.m.
The girls have meets scheduled straight to June.
For the full schedule and more information, visit www.haddonfield.k12.nj.us/athletics/.
