The girls’ spring track and field team, coached by Coach Babus, has had a great season thus far for the 2025 outdoor season. With huge personal records, or PRs, for many returning runners, and new faces make for a diverse team of talent and dedication. The captains, Ella Hecker, Ali Christensen, Mary Hope Swarts, Violet Sloan, and Danica Vazquez, all have led the team to substantial showings at relay and invitational meets.
Most recently, the team competed in the North 2 Group 2 State Sectional Championships. The highlights included the 4x800m winning the Sectional Championship in a time of 9:46.06, which took first by 13 seconds. The relay consisted of Kate Shaw (11), Lindsay Portland (11), Ella Hecker (12), and Violet Sloan (12) as the anchor. This qualifies them for the Group 2 Championship Meet, seeded first! Cece Marran took 3rd in the high jump by jumping 4’10. Gisele Scott threw 33 feet in the shotput to secure her 3rd place and an advancement to Groups. Lindsay Portland had a PR in the 3200m with a time of 11:19.57, earning her 4th place. Lastly, the 4x400m relay received 6th place, which will allow the team to advance to Groups.
Haley Babus, the Head Coach of the girls track and field team, describes the season thus far as “Exciting and motivating,” as she sees these athletes “find new successes and PRs” as the season has progressed. Track is a unique sport because of all the different events that range from 100m, a single straight away, all the way to 8 whole laps of the track, combining to make the 3200m or 2-mile race. In addition, there are field events of shot put, javelin, discus, long jump, triple jump, and high jump. This allows the team to be made up of many successful runners with various strengths and talents. It also makes track an extremely fun sport to watch and coach. Coach Babus remarks that she loves the “intrinsic self-motivation you have to have because it’s all with yourself. And I love my girls in my school. Best athletes there are,” when asked about what she loves most about the sport of track.
Cece Marran, a sophomore high jumper and hurdle runner, reflects on the team’s season so far: “I feel like everyone has improved in each of their events well.” Cece reflects on her highlights of the 2025 season, which were “clearing 5 feet in high jump” and hanging out with her friends and coaches every day. When asked to describe the 2025 team in two adjectives, Cece claimed the season was “positive and fun,” which has led her to succeed throughout this season.
