Zambetti, Innamoranti, sprint group lead Lady Patriots track team – The Sunday Dispatch
Zambetti, Innamoranti, sprint group lead Lady Patriots track team The Sunday Dispatch
Pittston Area’s returning girls track and field athletes are spread across the various event groups, giving the Lady Patriots the chance to continue their…
Nicole Zambetti returns to the Lady Patriots track roster this season. – Sunday Dispatch file photo Pittston Area’s returning girls track and field athletes are spread across the various event groups, giving the Lady Patriots the chance to continue their recent run of success if they can rebuild their depth.
“We lost a lot of points with our seniors that graduated,” Pittston Area girls coach Joe Struckus said. “We have a pretty big freshman group of about 10 kids that we’re hoping will take some spots, but also those upperclassmen that have been around a while, hopefully they will step up and take some of those positions that we need.”
Junior Nicole Zambetti returns after placing in the top six in District 2 Class 3A in four events last season when the Lady Patriots placed fourth out of 19 in the team standings. Zambetti, also the leader of the cross country team, was fifth in both the 800- and 1600-meter runs and ran relay legs of 400 and 800 on medal-winning teams.
Giavanna Innamoranti returns after placing second in the district in the 100 hurdles as a freshman.
The team’s best depth may be at sprinter.
Senior Jenna Smith and juniors Olivia Norwillo and Katelyn Wesp were all part of the sixth-place 400 relay team at districts. Smith was also on the 1600 relay team that finished sixth. Krista Maurizi, another experienced senior, is also among the sprinters.
Brynne McGoff adds depth behind Zambetti at middle distances.
Senior Kayleigh Walker leads the distance runners.
Emma Coles, Caroline Wesp and Amber Jenkins return as throwers. Coles was sixth and Jenkins was eighth in the javelin at districts.
Kylee Moran and Hannah Waleski are the most experienced of the jumpers.
Pittston Area lost district champion and state medalist pole vaulter Abby Norwillo, now competing for the University of Pennsylvania. Norwillo expanded her list of events last season and played a large role in the team going 6-1 to finish second out of eight in Division 1 of the Wyoming Valley Conference.
“It’s tough to replace that,” Struckus said. “She was jumping and was on a 4×100.”
Libby Williams takes over as the top pole vaulter.
The Lady Patriots are scheduled to open the season Wednesday at Hazleton Area.
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