VOORHEESVILLE — The -and-field teams will be smaller than they have been the past couple of years, but will be competitive as they move up from Class C in Section II to the larger Class B.

The boys’ team has 29 athletes out this spring and the girls’ team has just 16 competitors.
"Last year, we had more numbers," said Voorheesville Coach Steve Relyea. "But I feel we have higher-quality athletes. They are faster and have much better technique. We might not have the numbers but we have a higher-quality team."

The Colonial Council doesn’t have junior-varsity meets, Relyea said, so the lack of depth won’t be a problem in that aspect either.
"We run exhibition races," Relyea said. "With the numbers we have, everybody will be taking a spot on the varsity side."

Leading the boys will be junior Kyle Jacobs who will do the long jump, and hurdles, and will try to defend his class C title in the pole vault in the Class B meet.

Classmate Matt Miller will be doing the high jump, long jump, and running sprints for the Blackbirds this season.

Pat Jones, a transfer, has been running sprints this spring and has done a good job, said Relyea.

A strong group of distance runners are also returning for the Blackbirds.

Mackey Lloyd, Ryan Allison, and Ian Powell had good cross-country seasons last fall.

Dan Whitely will run the 200- and 400-meter sprints this spring and Patrick Mackey will run the hurdles.

Champs return

The girls’ team is loaded with good distance runners, including many members from the Class C cross-country champions from the fall.

Sophomores Hilary Edmunds and Chantel Little are key members who will lead the track team as they did the cross-country team.

Edmunds will run distance events while Little will run the 400- and 800-meter runs.

Junior Alison Vogelien will do the high jump and triple jump for the Birds and transfer student Kali Voltreaux will do field events as well as the 400 and 800 meters.

Ninth-grader Jessica Brown and sophomore Lizzie Dawson will run distance events.

Ninth-grader Seneca Gray will do the hurdles and has a lot of potential.
"She can be one of the top hurdlers in the council," Relyea said. "Technically she is good enough to be that. She will also high jump and run sprints for us."

Zoe Edmunds, an eighth-grader, will run in the distance races for the Blackbirds this spring.

Voorheesville had its first meet of the season at Broadalbin-Perth postponed due to the weather on Tuesday. They begin the season today (Thursday) at home against Cobleskill.
"It’ll be great to get the meets going," Relyea said. "We had time trials already and I was pretty happy with the results. We have some kids back from last year. I’m looking forward to having a good season."

But unlike most years, the Blackbirds have been able to get outside and do some work.
"Last week was spectacular," Relyea said. "We got a lot of work done on the track. I’m looking forward to the meets. The kids are getting a little itchy for competition."