Blue Devils Take Aim at Developing Top Team

The Huntington High School girls’ winter track and field team used the past few months to build up its ranks and provide an usually large number of newcomers the experience they need to eventually win championships. The final roster included 32 athletes spread across grades 9-12.

The Blue Devils were led by head coach Mark Jackson and assistant coaches Alicia Brooks and Chris Taylor. “This team has flipped a switch this year,” Jackson said. “They wanted to be competitive so they asked what they needed to get there. They wanted to be taken seriously as competitors and they learned about intimidation. Instead of just sitting around and waiting to get better, they chased after it and caught it. I’m excited to see their growth from this year to next.”

The team was captained by Emma Boyle, Jamyn Husselbeck, Dana Saramago and Lindsay Depeine. “The team is growing back to where it was a few years ago,” Jackson said. “They are still developing. They went from athletes that run track to athletes that compete in track and field. The change is apparent in all the athletes.”

The top athletes on the team included:

• Junior Kohana Nakamura (55m/60m, 300m): “Kohana has established herself as the preeminent sprinter in the school and county,” Jackson said. “Her accomplishments extend beyond the track as she has demonstrated maturity and leadership qualities, inspiring others without the title of captain.”

• Junior Emma Boyle (600m, 1000m, 1500m): “Emma is the glue that holds the distance team together,” Jackson said. “She has brought a whole new life to the distance team with her energy and passion for running. She is a mini coach, both asking questions and suggesting things to add to workouts to give the best results.”

• Sophomore Norah Moskowitz (600m, 1000m, 1500m): “Norah has made a drastic change from one of our top distance runners to one of our top long sprinters,” Jackson said. “She has her eye on making it into the top three all-time in Huntington in the 600m, but maybe even the 400m indoor.”

• Junior Jamyn Husselbeck (300m, 600m): “Jamyn has grown so much,” Jackson “I gave her the assignment to learn to compete, which she didn’t understand what I meant a year ago. But this year, we took time to break down races, learn technique and change mindsets. I am most proud of this growth because it takes a lot of time and mental strength to do this especially after a long day of school.”

• Junior Dana Saramago (55m, 55m hurdles): “Dana is my captain of captains,” Jackson said. “Every few years you get a kid that has an amazing work ethic, but has even better leadership ability. Leading workouts, motivating the team and being a role model are just some of the things she did.”

• Junior Anis Oyuela Herrera (shot put): “Anis has become a star this past year,” Jackson said. “She has thrown over four and half feet further over the past year and she’s only getting better. She is the No. 1 thrower coming back next year and I’m excited to see how much she will grow.”

One of the highlights of the season came when Huntington’s 4x4 relay narrowly qualified for the Section XI state qualifier. Ranked No. 12 coming into the state qualifying race, the Blue Devils placed fourth in a race they were not expected to medal in. Anis Oyuela Herrera also advanced to the state qualifier in shot put, throwing a personal best distance of 32 feet.

Almost the entire roster will be returning. “Next year, all the top athletes we had for this year come back,” Jackson said. “If they grow the same way they did this year, I can see them qualifying for the state meet with ease.”