On February 14th, the Gloucester track team dashed straight into our hearts- and across the finish line- at their Valentine’s Day Track States Competition. Unfortunately, the GHS track team did not place, earning a total of 12 points.

“We didn’t place in the top ten, but Leah Rudolph won her race,” said Coach David Coleman. “Overall, the girls did well. Chris MacDonald did well. We didn’t get a ton of State qualifiers in the boys side, but the ones who did [qualify] ran well.”

Coleman credits some of Gloucester’s hardships at States to the team’s relatively small size.

“We just need more kids,” said Coleman. “We are in the large division of the NEC, so we are going against large schools like Peabody, Beverly, and Marblehead.”

Coleman is hopeful for the spring season, when the Gloucester track team combines with the Manchester-Essex team, enabling them to be more competitive. In the spring season, Coleman wants to see the boys team win a meet.

“Last year the girls team finished second in the league,” said Coleman. “So we want to try to get close to that again, and see if we can maintain that competitive level, even though we are small.”

Due to prior flooding during January’s bomb-cyclone, there has been concern that the track was damaged. Luckily, the track remained intact.

“From what we see so far there isn’t any major damage,” said Coleman after the first flood. “So we should be okay for spring.”

The flooding from today’s storm may impact the track’s condition. Stay tuned for more coverage with damages from the storm.