South Side remains on the rise

Another year, another great season on the track for the South Side girls. The Lady Cyclones followed up an impressive 2016 season with a second-place finish in their division for the second straight season, and a fifth-place finish among all Class A schools at the county meet at Glen Cove High School on May 23.

Freshman Carly Woelfel capped off an outstanding season by blowing away the field in the 3000 meters with a personal record time of 10:56:54 to take the county championship.

Woelfel won the Division 3A titles in the 1500 and 3000 meters, and also ran the first leg for a 4x800 relay team that won by nearly 30 seconds. The other members of the relay team were freshmen Kaitlyn Mohr and Theresa Kenny, and junior Amanda Maughan.

Sophomore Olivia Rodriguez, who won the county championship in the high jump as a freshman, finished second in this year’s county meet. However, Rodriguez upped her game and finished first in the State Qualifier Meet with a jump of 5 ft. 2 in. Rodriguez will compete in this weekend’s state meet at Union-Endicott High School in Broome County.

Head coach Linda Weiss is happy with the progress of her team. “This program used to be very strong, so we’re trying to get it back to that level,” Weiss said. “We have a nice mix of senior leaders and underclassmen. We finished the season with over 50 on the team, and had six compete at the State Qualifier.”

While there were only five seniors on the roster, all five were four-year varsity performers. Talia Cutrone, who will compete at Marist College, missed nearly all of the spring season with an injury. She served as captain of the cross-country, winter track, and spring track teams.

Meghan Fahy regularly scored in the hurdles and as a member of the 4x400 relay team. Brigit Kelly set a school record in the steeplechase while finishing third at the county meet. She plans to run at Sacred Heart University. Allison Mullooly competed in the long jump and triple jump, while Anna Rodriguez participated in the high jump and hurdles.

“The senior leadership was an important element,” Weiss said. “I spent a lot of time while the five over them over the past four seasons. I’m very proud of what they did for the program. There will be tears shed. They will be missed.”

With Woelfel and an outstanding crop of freshmen back for a multitude of years, South Side appears to be in great shape for the future. Mohr, who finished second in the 3000 in both the division and county meets, and Maughan, who finished second in the 1500 at the division meet, will be among the team’s top returnees.

“The program is developing nicely,” Weiss said. “The girls had an outstanding cross country season, and then carried it over to track season. We’re building it back up. The girls are training all year, and putting so much time and effort in.”