Starting its first season on the new field, the track team is looking forward to a year of firsts: records set on the new track, meets hosted at Sion and a larger team than ever before. The team tested the track in an inter-squad meet, a more relaxed meet with only Sion team members, on March 22 and 23, setting an exciting tone for the season.

The inter-squad meet serves as a practice round for both the coaches and those that organize meets and team members, according to senior co-captain Chandi Marsh. New team members can try out different events to determine their favorites, and past members can compare their times to last year’s, measuring their progress.

“There’s a lot of people trying new things to see what they’re good at,” Marsh said. “It’s a comfortable atmosphere since it’s only our team.”

In addition, the team can perfect the microphones and timing system before it hosts its first meet against St. Teresa’s Academy on April 2.

Coach Lori Donnelly saw immediate progress during the meet and says the main purpose of the meet is to determine which events to place each team member in.

“Everybody is doing really well,” Donnelly said. “Emma Cosner just dropped 30 seconds off of her mile from last year and Lauren Blando just dropped 22 seconds. Countless others have also improved.”

More than just a practical event, the inter-squad meet served as the first meet on the new track, a milestone for the team that Donnelly has watched grow from 24 members five years ago when she arrived to 60 members this year.

“It’s a celebration and a bonding experience,” Donnelly said.

The team has a lot to celebrate. With the new track, practices can start right after school at Sion instead of the Barstow School. Without the time travelling to another field to practice and the later start time, Donnelly estimates that team members have an extra hour each night this year thanks to the new facility.

The team is ready to set records for the first time on the new track and make their mark in its first year, according to Marsh. Seniors used to practicing away from home praise the convenience of the new field.

“It’s really nice and convenient,” senior Lauren Blando said. “We all feel more at home.”

With a new facility and more manageable schedule, the team is looking forward to more growth and progress.

“There’s no way it can’t help,” senior co-captain Madeline Kahl said. “There’s just constant improvement now.”