Steady strides for Concordia Prep track and field team

By Nelson Coffin
nelson@iaamsports.com

The Concordia Prep track and field team is making steady strides in the early going of the B Conference season, which included a meet at McDonogh last week.

Only about half the team was able to participate, considering that the school was on spring break.

Coach Kaitlyn Stadtmann still received some pretty good performances from senior Angel Farabee (2nd, 13.96) and freshman Phoenix Griffith (6th, 14.24) in the 100-meter dash and junior Jayda Morgan (3rd, 51 feet) and senior Simone Tyson (48.11) in the discus.

The Saints can also count on seniors Aliyah Cade and Emma Pyles to bring their best efforts on a consistent basis.

Until recently, Cade owned the school record in the 200 and Stradtman feels that it’s only a matter of time until she does so again.

Pyles is the lone distance threat, so she is adept at handling the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 for the Saints.

Stadtmann credits Tyson for taking on the 300 hurdles while also lauding her efforts for being an outstanding leader.

“She’s a critical part of keeping the team together,” the coach said. “She challenges others (to be better) and she embodies everything we could want for a Concordia Prep athlete.”

With only 15 athletes competing and no track on campus, Stadtmann’s job has challenges that she has fully embraced in her third year at the helm.

“We find places to run in the area,” she said, noting that the Saints’ hurdlers and jumpers usually have little or no practice time on those events prior to competing in meets.

Even so, the Saints are irrepressible.

“Every year we’ve more competitive,” she said. “Our continued hope is to improve our numbers while we work our way up the (B Conference) ladder. Our kids are great at being flexible. We just go with the flow.”