Blue Devil Girls’ Track Makes Strides

The Huntington varsity girls’ track and field team wrapped up the spring outdoor season with seven All-League athletes. Six of them eligible to return next year.

Coached by Mark Jackson, Sarah Hall and Alicia Brooks, the Blue Devils were captained by Jannel Marroquin and Andrea Mani-Munoz.

“The biggest accomplishment this year in my eyes is growing and now being able to field a full team with sprints, distance, jumps and throws,” Jackson said. “We were able to get two relays, a sprinter and a jumper in the state qualifier meet, showing that we are well-rounded as a team and will be for years to come.”

Elizabeth James, Andrea Mani-Munoz, Kiley Barch, Piper Davis, Norah Moskowitz, Emma Boyle and Kohana Nakamura were all recognized as All-League.

“Elizabeth is the top jumper in Section XI when she is healthy and in shape and she is also one of the top sprinters,” Jackson said. In my 10 years of coaching, I have only had one other athlete that could cover all the events she can and do it at such a high level.”

Nakamura was a standout in sprints. “Kohana is a talent that will only get better as she starts to gain confidence in this sport,” Jackson said. “She has so much potential inside that hasn’t been tapped into since she has not realized that she could be the next great sprinter in Section XI.”

Barch continues to shine in the distance events. “Kiley has been the top distance runner for the last two years for a reason,” Jackson said. “Since she was a freshman, she has made it a point to hold on to that top spot even with her fellow athletes nipping at her heels for the top spot. She has developed beautifully and will only get better with time.”

Jackson said that looking ahead to 2025, his first goal is to have a winning record in Huntington’s league meets; next become competitive in the Section XI championships and have more girls advance to the state qualifier. “We want to have more girls qualify for the state meet and I also hope to get back to the national with a competitive team,” the coach said.

Jackson wants to get the Blue Devils back to the point where they are regularly competing for league, county and state titles. “I just need the kids to come back ready to pick up where we left off this year because we made amazing strides and we are only getting better,” the coach said.