The Conant indoor track team headed to Milford’s Hampshire Dome Monday evening for what’s likely to be the only meet of the season for the Orioles after a second straight year without a sanctioned NHIAA schedule.
The week’s winter weather created some precipitation issues under the dome, where the wet track sent sprinters slipping and stumbling out of the start. But with no state championship meet to qualify for, exact times were merely a point of pride and progress.
“This was a test of how effective our workouts have been this winter without having raced yet,” Conant coach Bill Edson said, “this being our first and probably only race. I really liked what I saw. I think our workouts have been working and they have a very strong base, and with that base, they had decent performances.”
Conant has championship aspirations this spring, and the work towards hoisting the hardware was in evidence Monday. Neve Mormando (first, 1,500M and 600M), Amber Gnoza (second, 1,500M and 600M) and Lainey Holombo (fourth, 300M) looked strong on the girls’ side. Ethan Vitello, who’s on track for a redemptive spring season, roared in approval as he crossed the finish line first in the 300M, nearing a top time in the state; Austin Poikonen (first, 55M hurdles; third, 300M), John Mormando (third, 1,500M) and Michael Brooks (third, 55M) also had strong performances.
“It felt good to just try your hardest and run a race,” Brooks said. “At practice, you’re training, but you’re not pushing and pushing; during a meet, you’re pushing your best – or at least you should be. It’s nice to feel that feeling.”
The Orioles had one state champion in their stable wearing Conant’s black-and-orange, though she won’t help them much this spring. Wilton-Lyndeborough’s star sprinter and double Division III champ of a year ago Sam Boette has been training with Conant this winter, as WLC does not have an indoor track program. It’s a tough daily commute from Wilton to Jaffrey – or even as far as Franklin Pierce – for Boette to join the Orioles for practice, but the long-distance driving is rewarded with short-distance success. Boette held off Monadnock senior sprinter Liliana Chirichella to win both the 300M and 55M races Monday.
“She’s an adopted Oriole,” Edson said, “so that’s nice. And she’s making the trip every day. She’s very tough and dedicated.”
Whatever happens this spring, the Orioles will know they put in the work to prepare themselves while other programs around the state were reduced to individual workouts or merely sitting stagnant waiting for warmer weather.
“We shouldn’t lose our mojo,” Brooks said. “We should keep the flow going. If we stagnate, we’re not going to keep our endurance…That’s what the indoor season is doing for me and for all of us – making us better runners in general.”