By: Jackson Daignault ’18

The Staples girls’ track team will look to replicate last year’s success, a FCIAC and state competition berth, with another strong showing.
“I hope that our team can further improve and work on getting our times to the best that they can be,” captain Sarah Neckritz ’17 said. “If everyone gives it 100 percent, I know that our team will be happy with our results.”
The Wreckers have sustained success in part to captain Ivy Prince ’17, who finished fifth in javelin in the Class LL Championships, and co-captain Susie Martin ’17, who finished seventh in both the 1600 and 3200 meter events at the Class LL Championship.
The team also looks to finish out the strong careers of captains Grace Foster ’17, Sarah Neckritz and Samantha Little ’17 with help from runners Amanda Neckritz ’18 and Leah Robins ’18.
Robins has a personal goal for this upcoming campaign. “My hopes for this season would be to improve my times in the 100 [meter] and 200 [meter] dash,” she said.
Amanda Neckritz believes that the Wreckers can continue their success from the indoor season. “Our relays have kept on improving and there are a lot of individuals who have run personal bests this past season,” she said.
The Wreckers have been training during the winter, according to Sarah Neckritz. “Freshman and sophomores workout on Monday and Wednesday, while the upperclassmen go on Tuesday and Thursday,” Neckritz said. “I have been doing outside workouts too to get ready for the season.”
The Wreckers lost Hannah Debalsi ’16, a key contributor to last year’s team, to Stanford University. She won the state and FCIAC championships in both the 1600 meter as well as the 3200 meter, later qualifying for the New England Championships where she finished third in the 3200 meter.
Despite the loss of Debalsi from the roster, the Wreckers seem confident they will be able to contend in 2017. “Our distance runners have already done a great job during the indoor season after losing Hannah,” Robins said. “Distance captains Susie Martin and Sam Little [have] been very helpful and dedicated to working with the girls in order to make them their very best.”
Amanda Neckritz, along with the rest of the team, seems to be prepared for the outdoor season to begin, stating, “We are excited to see what is going to happen this season.”