Girls’ Track and Field Preview: Flintridge Prep loaded for spring

Whether it was a change in coaching, philosophy, expectations or the graduation of talent, the Flintridge Prep, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, Crescenta Valley High, Glendale, Hoover and Holy Family track teams have had to deal with an offseason of adjustments.

Each, however, is linked by a common goal of improving and advancing.

One team that appears loaded is Flintridge Prep.

The Rebels captured five individual Prep League championships and placed second in league to Mayfield Senior School.

All of the individual champions have returned, led by senior Hanna Barakat.

The sprinter captured the league’s 100-meter dash (12.75 seconds), 200 (25.82) and 400 (59.64) titles, while running the anchor leg in the second-place 1,600-meter relay squad (4:13.32).

Barakat broke the school record in the 200 with a time 24.66, which gained her sixth at the CIF Southern Section Division IV finals.

She returns along with promising sophomore pole vaulter Evelyn Molebash, daughter of coach Jen Molebash.

At league finals, the younger Molebash set the league pole vault record with a mark of 10 feet, 7 inches.

This season, the vaulter is hoping to hit an ambitious height of 12 feet.

A big portion of Flintridge Prep’s depth comes in the distances thanks to the state champion cross-country team.

University of Oklahoma-bound Natalie O’Brien returns as the league’s 3,200-meter (11:22.66) champion, while junior Sophie Gitlin was second (11:28.05) last season. League cross-country champion Sasha Codiga is also back after taking second (2:22.89) in the 800 at league finals.

“We have some very talented athletes and we have the potential to have a really strong year,” Jen Molebash said. “We have some standouts who I believe have an opportunity to go far.”

Crescenta Valley Coach Mark Evans has a versatile squad with strength in the sprints and field events.

Clair Schlueter was a member of the Pacific League champion 400-meter relay team (49.8) and returns as perhaps her squad’s steadiest contributor. Schlueter finished second in the 100-meter sprints at league finals in 12.5 and will run the 100 and 200 along with competing in the long jump and triple jump.

Senior Brianna Domingo will join Schlueter in the 100 and 200 along with Izzy Lieberman and Jestena Galvan. Jennifer Saengsri and Galvan are also set to participate in the 100 and 300 hurdles.

One athlete to keep an eye on is pole vaulter Emily Perkins, who has been progressing throughout the offseason.

In the distances, Evans can lean on some cross-country names in Melissa Owens and Naila Ortiz.

“I’m excited to get the team out there for the first meet and see how they do,” Evans said. “These girls are our core, but we’re also excited about some of the freshmen and sophomore girls who have come out as well as some players from the soccer team. I think we’re going to surprise some people.

Change swept Flintridge Sacred Heart, as the program waved goodbye to 14-year coach Eddie Gorton and moved up from the Sunshine League to the challenging Mission League.

In two seasons in the Sunshine League, the Tologs won their first-ever league title in 2015, while finishing third last year.

Gorton’s longtime assistant Jonathan Keys took over the position and will bring some familiarity.

Flintridge Sacred Heart has about 20 athletes with a few key returners, including junior Bobbie Byrne.

The cross-country runner ran the anchor league of last season’s league winning 1,600-meter relay squad.

Byrne also qualified to the CIF preliminaries as a member of the third-place 400-meter relay squad (52.53). She’s expected to also compete in the 200 and 400, having also taken third at league finals in the 400 (59.59).

One of the unexpected bright spots last year was sophomore Kelly Carney, who took up the triple jump at the request of Gorton and finished third in 33-6 1/2, while eventually setting the school record of 33-7 at the Division IV finals.

Carney is expected to participate in the long jump, as well.

Senior Monica Collins, who struggled with injuries and illness in 2016, is expected to run in the 3,200.

“Since we’ve moved up to the Mission League, we know it’s going to be tough,” Keys said. “For me, I’ll measure progress by improvement. We’re going to be facing some talented squads on a week-by-week basis and all I’m going to ask is that we improve.”

Though the total number of seniors on this season’s Glendale squad is low, the Nitros aren’t inexperienced and return several key athletes.

“Last year for the girls, it was all about learning what it means to be a varsity athlete,” Glendale Coach Bob Bailey said. “Now, it is not only time for them to show what they have learned, but to push themselves in their quest to become some of the best in our league.”

Last season, Glendale took fifth in the Pacific League with a 3-4 mark.

This season, the Nitros’ strength will be in the sprints and hurdles.

Sophomore Kendall Gaskian and senior Melina Puchulutegui both were around the 13-second mark in the 100 meters. Puchulutegui and Gaskin will continue in the 100 along with the 200, while junior Marion Dacosta will compete in the 200 and 400. Dacosta is looking to clear 60 seconds in the 400.

Senior hurdler Carolina Carrillo has an opportunity for a breakthrough season in the 100 and 300 hurdles, while newcomer Krizia Rapisora will join Carrillo in the high jump.

Sophomore Vanneza Venzor, a bright spot for Glendale cross-country, will pair with Alisson Corvera to provide a strong one-two punch in the distances after the program graduated 800-meter Pacific League champion Nona Boyajyan.

With only 10 athletes, the goals and expectations for Hoover are quite simple and clear.

“With such small numbers, we’re working on individual performances and on advancing to CIF,” Hoover Coach Jack Sallakian said. “Whether it’s in the distances, relays or field events, our goal is getting individuals to CIF.”

In the distances, Sallakian believes he has a potential CIF qualifier in Gabriella Quinones, who has excelled during preseason practice.

Freshman Olivia Garcia is a potential up-and-comer in the sprints and may surprise some opponents.

After a successful Horizon League campaign last season that saw the Gaels finish second, change is afoot at Holy Family as the program saw Tamera Brown take over for coach Nathaniel Ziomek.

In previous seasons, Holy Family had been sprinter-heavy with most of the squad’s dual-meet points coming via the sprints, hurdles and relays.

This campaign, though, the balance has shifted to the distances as Brown has a key returner back in junior Aaliyah Alaniz, who will be flanked by three promising freshmen: Ximena Camacho, Majella Carrera and Maya Devora.

Also back this season is junior Lluvia Devora with vital experience in the hurdles.

“I am especially excited at the number of girls who have come out this season,” Brown said. “It is the largest team Holy Family has had in years and I’m honored to be their coach and spend time with such delightful, young women.”