Standout Track And Field Athletes To Mentor Younger Girls

April 9, 2010 by Greg Lederer

Track and field encompasses qualities of an individual and team sport. The Cheshire High School girls' outdoor team has seen an athlete reach the national level of late, yet it wasn't until last year that that they collectively earned a championship. In their friendly confines, the Rams compiled 109.33 points to win the Housatonic Divisional for the first time since 1999.
Returning letter winners will be instrumental in mentoring a younger team in 2010. Cheshire graduated 13 athletes. Last year’s captains Taylor Meltzer (javelin), Christine Hedden (triple and long jump, 4x100- and 4x400 meter relays), Lynelle Schmidt (100- and 200-meters, 4x100-meter relay), along with Lavanya Rajendran (hurdles, high jump), were vital to the title team.
“We have some work to do there,” said Cheshire Head Coach Barbara Hedden. “It will definitely be a lot of teaching in jumps and hurdles.”
“We have a lot of new kids that came out this season. We didn’t have that last year,” added Rachel Aliotta, a senior captain with Julie Hart and Sam Alberino. “I like being able to teach people what I’ve learned.”
Aliotta has been a reliable field force for four years. Since breaking the school shot put record during freshman year, she has compiled a long list of accomplishments. Aliotta (2009 MVP-Field) hasn’t dropped a shot put event to a Connecticut resident in the last two years. She is coming off another stellar winter season, in which she won her first New England Championship indoors (41 feet, six inches) and finished fourth (44 feet, 3.25 inches) nationally to earn All-American for the first time. Aliotta broke her own CHS and SCC indoor records at 44 feet and 11.25 inches
“I’m pretty excited because I love outdoor the most. It’s warmer,” reflected Aliotta, who will compete at Monmouth University (West Long Branch, New Jersey). “I like being able to throw shot put and discus.”
She swept the Housatonic (42 feet, three inches), Southern Connecticut Conference (40 feet), Class LL (42 feet, three inches), State Open (44 feet, three inches), and New England (43 feet, 6.5 inches) shot put titles last spring. She broke her own Cheshire outdoor record, throwing 44 feet and seven inches. However during that same season, she became a well-round thrower. Since the Rams graduated standout Katie Visentin in 2008, they needed to make up key points in discus. Aliotta accepted the challenge, improving her distance from 85 to nearly 119 feet. She supplanted her mentor for second place (118 feet, 11 inches) all-time at CHS.
“Discus isn’t my top event. But, I knew I had to step up after Katie graduated,” recalled Aliotta, who strives to break the Cheshire record (120 feet, 0.5 inch). “I knew I had to focus. There were multiple hours taken away from shot put and luckily, it didn’t hurt me.”
Aliotta captured the Housatonic (114 feet, 6 inches) and SCC (107 feet, nine inches) discus crowns, placing runner-up to 2009 Newtown High School Rachel Taback at the Class LL (108 feet, two inches) and State Open (109 feet).
“My goal is to throw 46 (feet) or better in shot put and qualify for nationals again,” explained Aliotta. “I’d like to maintain the top spots (of Connecticut) in discus.”
“We are looking for her to be one of the leaders on this team,“ Coach Hedden said. “Hopefully, she can help the younger kids improve.”
Pole vault is an area of returning depth. Seniors Jen Jackson (second, eight feet and six inches) and Sarah Schulefand (third, eight feet), along with junior Meg Mostoller (tie for fifth, seven feet), sparked the Rams by earning top 10 finishes at the 2009 Housatonic meet. They all qualified for the SCC Championship, with Jackson advancing to the Class LL level.
“In something like pole vault, it (experience) is extremely important. It takes the most time to learn that event,” stated Coach Hedden. “Unfortunately with our schedule, they haven’t had time yet this year.”
Coach Hedden hopes for breakout seasons from her junior class in technique events. Breslyn Goodison (Class LL) is key in following the graduation of Meltzer (State Open). Junior Alisha Wright was an SCC qualifier in the triple jump last season. Emily Winch has also developed her hurdling craft.
“We’ve been working technique. It just takes time,” added Coach Hedden.
Christine Hedden transitioned between jumps and sprints, where she teamed with Schmidt on the 4x100-meter team. Fortunately, the Rams return Alberino and junior Ashia Wright to that relay. Ashia Wright made an immediate contribution last season, en route to receiving MVP (Track) honors. She won the Housatonic 100- (13.28) and 200-meters (27.44), contributing to the victorious 4x100-meter relay (52.13). Alberino was the Housatonic runner-up for 100-meters (13.62). Ashia Wright also reached the State Open (55-meters) over the winter.
“It’s really exciting because we work well together,” explained Alberino, who qualified for the SCC 100- and 200-meters. “She pushes me in races and it helps having her in 4x100 (-meter relay).”
“Obviously, Ashia was a big bonus. She was an asset to the team from day one,” reflected Coach Hedden.
Ashia Wright was a top finisher at the 2009 SCC/Class LL 100- (second, 12.98, sixth, 12.84) and 200-meters (fifth, 26.89; 10th, 27.72). The 4x100-meter team competed at both meets (third, 51.83; seventh, 51.55). Coach Hedden feels Alberino is a strong leader for that team.
“Experience in a relay is important. It’s another skill event,“ said Coach Hedden. “Younger athletes are always going to learn quickly if they have a role model to learn from.”
“It’s really an honor to be leader of track,” reflected Alberino.
Hart, a Class LL qualifier in the 1,600-meters, is a versatile athlete from 800- to 3,200-meters. Like Aliotta and Ashia Wright, she has momentum from an strong indoor season. Hart defended her Housatonic 1,000-meters (3:09.5) title, returning to shatter the SCC record (3:00.64). She also medaled at the Class LL (second, 2:57.61) and State Open (third, 2:56.59; CHS record), qualifying for her first trip to the New England meet and Nike Indoor National Championship.
“I want to carry over what I did indoors,” explained Hart. “I have to set higher goals than what I thought I could do.”
Seniors Caitlyn Criscuolo, Morgan Schwenn, and Megan Fackler, along with sophomores Tesni Phillips and Maggie Ptaszynski, joined Hart through the 4x800-meter group last season. Sophomore Amanda Chang (Class LL 3,200-meters) adds to the distance team.
“I’m really excited for distance because we had a great cross country and track teams. We are really young, too,” said Hart. “I’m excited to see what we can do.”
Junior Sarah Fusco, senior Taylor Altieri, and sophomore Ali Below competed for the 4x400-meter relay in 2009. Fusco reached a personal milestone upon winning her first Housatonic title outdoors in the 400-meters (1:01.88). She also cracked the top 10 of the SCC (seventh, 1:01.71) and Class LL (ninth, 1:01.95).
“Sarah works hard and is a dedicated athlete,” added Coach Hedden.
Cheshire opens the season today against West Haven and Mercy, at 3:45 p.m. Housatonic rival Amity visits on April 13, with the same start time. The Rams aim to win the division title, but it will have to come in the dual-meet season. The four division meets have transitioned into an East and West Sectional. Cheshire will compete in the East meet, to be held May 18.
“It will be interesting to see how it goes. It will make for a tougher meet because they have to make the SCC qualifying (standards),” explained Coach Hedden.
The SCC (May 25), Class LL (June 1), State Open (June 7), and New England (June 12) are key post-season meets. Cheshire placed within the top 10 of the first three (fifth; sixth; tie for 10th) last year.