The potential for excellence on the girls' track team

The 2015 High School for Math, Science and Engineering’s girls' outdoor track team was made up of a majority of underclassmen. Interestingly, this didn't come as a surprise to coach Tom Henning.

The track team usually attracts a lot of freshmen runners every year. This season was no different, as the outdoor girls' track team consisted of 67% freshmen. These freshmen, Savanna Hang, Anna Mumford, Cindy Zhang, and Yong Yi Zhang used the track team to adjust to high school.

Yong Yi Zhang (l.), Cindy Zhang (r.) /Ed Yaker 

“Track, especially cross country, helped me meet students I wouldn’t have met before,” Mumford said. “Cross Country was before school started so that helped me make friends I wouldn’t normally make. The same thing happened with track.”

Inexperience was a major obstacle that the team had to overcome in order to succeed. Mumford recalled junior Michelle Lee’s excellent leadership which kept the team composed throughout the season.

“Michelle led by example," she said. "She showed up to practice even when she didn’t need to. She was always the fastest runner, the fact that she came to practice everyday displays her excellent leadership”

Success is probable for the next few seasons considering the team’s youth. Their potential for excellence was displayed this year. A motivated Lee and a promising group of rising sophomores will improve with more experience.