Girls’ track aims to improve

Head Coach: Archie Ljepava

Last season's record: 0-6

Last season's recap: The loss of key athletes like class of 2012 alumni Michelle Cummins and Ailene Nguyen caused the team struggled to compete with larger teams last year. With their record of 0-6, the team has been relegated to the lower El Camino League.

Star athletes: senior Lauren Casey-Clyde, juniors Puck de Roos (heptathlete), Allison Chan, and Laura Cummins, sophomore Kimberly Chen (sprinters)

Key Additions: freshman Alice Bian (distance runner)

Key Matchups: March 13 at Homestead, March 20 vs Santa Clara, March 27 at Fremont, April 3 at Wilcox, May 1 at Cupertino

Quote: “Because we are a smaller school, it will be better to compete [in the El Camino League] against schools we have a chance of beating,” said junior Puck de Roos, who is a heptathlete.

After a difficult 2012 season, where the loss of key athletes like alumna Michelle Cummins and Ailene Nguyen contributed to a 0-6 losing record, the girls’ track team was relegated to the lower El Camino League from the competitive De Anza League. 

The team begins practice in early February under the direction of head coach Archie Ljepava, and will have its first meet at home against Homestead on March 13. Star athletes include senior Lauren Casey-Clyde, juniors Puck de Roos, Allison Chan, and Laura Cummins, and sophomore Kimberly Chen.

De Roos’ personal goals include achieving under 50 seconds in the 300-meter hurdles and a 5’6” in the high jump, which will require a 4 inch improvement in the high jump. Chen said she wanted to run a 60-second 400-meter, a 2.68-second improvement. 

De Roos also said she will compete in the heptathlon again, a combined competition involving seven different events. Last year, De Roos, now-senior Julia Sakamoto, and now-junior Jennifer McAfee participated in the two-day event.   

In terms of the team’s performance, de Roos said the El Camino League will be a welcome change.

“Because we are a smaller school, it will be better to compete against schools we have a chance of beating,” she said.

Key additions include freshman Alice Bian, who ran varsity cross country at CCS finals in the fall and plans to compete in the 1600-meter and 3200-meter.