By S. Quinn DeJoy and J. Murrer

Jun. 8, 2016:  The Broncos will be well represented at the New York State Track and Field Championships this week. Ten Bronxville girls will participate in the meet, which will be held on Friday and Saturday at Cicero-North Syracuse High School.

Junior Kaitlin Ryan will compete in two individual events, the 800m and 1500m, and will also participate in two of the three Bronco relay teams. Ryan, who has made it to states every year since eighth grade, finished first in the 1500m last year in Division 2. The state championship races are divided into big schools (Division 1) and small schools (Division 2).

Three relay teams will compete at states: the 4x800m team (Hilary Rizzo, Olivia Scotti, Laura Holland, and Ryan), the 4x400m team (Eve Balseiro, Caroline Brashear, Hilary Rizzo, and Ryan), and the 4x100m team (Caroline DePaul, Sophie Kohlhoff, Alisa Fominykh, and Margot Richards).

"This is the third year in a row that we have managed to qualify all three," said Coach Jim Mitchell. Last year, the 4x400m team won Division 2 and the 4x800m won both Division 2 and the Federation.

The 4x100m team returns to states with the same members as last year. Under the guidance of Coach Keina Samuels, the team managed to run a personal best of 50.67 at the state qualifiers last week. Samuels has helped the members of the team perfect their baton-passing technique.

"We work on that a lot," said Kohlhoff. "In an event as short as ours, you have to do that pretty quickly or you lose a lot of time."

The Bronxville girls are hoping to defend their Division 2 titles in Ithaca this weekend.

Go Broncos.

Pictured here: Coach Jim Mitchell and state-bound track athletes. Missing: Kaitlin Ryan.

Photo by J. Murrer