Season Preview: Lynn English girls’ track raring to go

Lynn English girls? track coach Brenda Martin knows her Bulldogs have the potential to make some noise in the Northeastern Conference?.that is, if they ever get a chance to get outside at Manning Field.
The Bulldogs, like many teams, are seeing their preparation and even their regular-season schedule being hampered by not having an outdoor facility for practice.
Martin?s team has been forced to practice in the halls at English because Manning Field?s track is still covered in several inches of snow. Despite the less-than-ideal conditions, the fourth-year coach is happy with how her team has embraced the situation.
?We?ve managed to get outside on a couple of the days when it hasn?t been so bad,” Martin said. “We have a lot of experience coming back. They have run both indoor and outdoors with me and have improved exponentially.”
Martin currently has 35 athletes on the roster, many of whom have been under her tutelage for multiple seasons.
The Bulldogs will have tri-captains this season in seniors Marni McManus and Briana Maynard along with junior Bianna Silenciaux.
They have plenty of race experience and Martin has high expectations for them.
?The three of them were selected as captains because of their leadership skills,” Martin said. “They set the tone for the team and get the girls pumped up for practice. And they lead by example. They are such hard workers and they work hard on each of their events.”
Standout students, the trio also leads is in the classroom, taking advanced placement classes.
?These girls have really stuck with it, even with the classes they?re taking,” Martin said. “Despite all the work, they still come and work hard for this team.”
Maynard and Faith Agbonsalo will handle most of the sprinting duties for the Bulldogs. Senior Neeka Lloba is back to run the 200 meters for Martin while another senior, Ose Ukhuedova, will primarily run the 400 meters.
?We always are able to find good sprinters,” Martin said. “It?s getting the distance people that?s been the problem.”
McManus is the Bulldogs? primary distance runner as she handles the 2-mile chores, andBianca Silenciauxhas become a solid shotputter.
The hurdle events will be the domain of Elizabeth Roson and Kylie Moorhouse.
The season opener has been pushed back a week because of the weather, something that Martin sees as a positive for her team.?For us, its good because we haven?t gotten on the track yet,” she said. “At least with another week, we can hopefully get on there and get some practice in. It?s hard to get a feel for what the girls can do because of being inside.”