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Courtesy Photo/Gerry Clemente CLEMENTE: Runner Garrick Clemente and the rest of the Bobcat 4x800 relay team are state contenders this year.
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Additional runners put Bobcats in prime position for district titles
Local
By Dan Roem
Source: Gainesville Times
THURSDAY, MARCH 25 2010
Battlefield outdoor track coach Jeff Michaelis has every reason to be optimistic about his boys and girls teams this season. With the Cedar Run District realigned, the Bobcats no longer face their former strongest rival Osbourn Park as the Yellow Jackets are now part of the neighboring Cardinal District to the south. Sure, Loudoun Valley is a contender and newcomers Heritage could surprise those unfamiliar with the former Group AA school. However, the boys team is “very solid” and features state contenders like long jumper Byron Sintim and the 4x800 relay team of Nate Moyer, Sebastian Paniagua, Garrick Clemente and Vaughn Franklin. Darren Driscoll, a team captain, is a consistent threat to win any given one-mile or two-mile race and Everett Drew, the boy’s other captain, is set to give the Bobcats’ their best chance to capture 200-meter, 400-meter and intermediate hurdle races. “We have a ton of returners,” said Michaelis. “We’ll lose a bunch next year.” The boys team fielded 85 members overall this year, which invariably means there is a larger talent pool for Michaelis to select his starters while giving his freshmen and rookie runners a chance to learn the ropes. Michaelis said he concentrating on recruiting athletes from other sports programs that did not compete in the off-season. “Let’s come out and run,” he said he told them. The team is “working to build (a) solid foundation” in order to compensate for the seniors once they graduate, said the coach. That is also showing up on the girls’ side with senior all-star sprinter Genevieve Johnson entering her final season along with team co-captain Ivy Mumo. She shares that title with junior Marina Capalbo, who said the team is busy trying to fill in some gaps for distance runners as the Bobcats lost several seniors last year. For example, two members from the 4x800 tam Capalbo ran with last year are back this year: Megan Pyles and Ali Sunderland. But senior Dani Crabtree graduated, meaning Capalbo and company will have to find a new route to states. Given that the roster of girls has more than doubled to about 80 since last year, there are more natural athletes coming aboard such as freshman Nicole Cercy. Capalbo said the rookie “always tries her best” and “keeps her cool” under stress, which can be difficult for first-year runners. “I’ve seen her grow,” said Capalbo, who ran with Cercy during the indoor season. Along with new runners, there is a whole new coaching staff as former assistants are now in leadership roles. Joining Michaelis are girls coach Richard Hill, hurdles coach Charles James, throwing coach Shylea Michaelis and distance coach Rachel Shutt. “The biggest thing is (the runners) have to learn our style and respect that,” said Michaelis. He said team objectives this year include runners achieving “PRs” (personal best) times each time they compete and improve themselves as “overall” people.
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