It’s been a completely different experience for the Huntington High School girls’ winter track and field team, which would be practicing and competing indoors if not for the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, the squad is outdoors and navigating through a period of cold afternoon temperatures.
The Blue Devils won the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s 4x200m relay state title last winter and were the overwhelming favorite to capture it again, perhaps with the State Federation crown, too. But Huntington is in uncharted waters right now and much remains to be seen.
Huntington junior Analisse Batista is a state track champion.
Practices commenced last Tuesday. The team’s top athletes look to be Analisse Batista, Oliva Conte, Caroline O’Rourke and Brianna Halbeisen. Eighth grader Elizabeth James is also expected to play a key role on the team. The squad’s unit of throwers is still taking shape.
Batista won a state gold medal in the 600m run last winter and she looks very impressive in the early going on the Blue Devils Stadium track.
Coaches Mark Jackson and Eddie Santos swapped positions with Santos moving into the head coach position since he works in the high school building and is better able to handle school day issues and recruit athletes for the team.
While 30 athletes were eligible to return, the actual number that did is much smaller, which coaches attribute to how the COVID-19 pandemic has scrambled high school sports.
Huntington High School is currently following a hybrid scheduling model with students attending in-person classes two days one week and three days the next. Some are entirely on a remote schedule at their choosing.
“I’m very excited for this winter season,” Halbeisen said. “I’m working on more speed events. I’m looking forward to the 200 and 300 meter sprints. I’m also looking forward to the 4x2 and 4x4 relays. Even with the circumstances that we practice in we are improving more and more.”
The Blue Devils will compete exclusively on weekends at 11 a.m. Huntington travels to North Babylon on January 17 before hosting West Islip on January 23. The Blue Devils will compete at Bellport on January 31 and at Deer Park on February 6 before returning for a final home meet against Smithtown West on February 14.
“Track is going really well,” said Conte, who expects to compete in hurdles, triple jump and some relays. “We are all getting back into everything and are training consistently.”