There are some members of the indoor track team at Fox Chapel Area High School that are boosting the excitement level of Tom Moul and his coaching staff as it readies for another season.
“I’m excited about (the team),” Moul said. “Especially on the girls’ side, we have some returning athletes that have been pretty good for us.”
There’s senior Anna Troutman, who qualified for the state indoor track meet each of the last two years in the high jump. She also qualified for states in the hurdles in outdoor track and was the girls’ MVP for the outdoor track team in the spring.
“We’re hoping she can continue that success and maybe get a medal,” Moul said. “She’s also a good hurdler, so we’re hoping she can make it in that event.”
There’s also sophomore Claire Conti, who qualified for the state meet as a freshman in the shot put and sprinter Alyssa Quackenbush, a junior, who Moul classified as “really fast.”
Boys who may be counted on for good seasons include senior shot put specialist Mason Miles, who has medaled twice in outdoor track.
“We’re hoping he can have a good indoor season,” Moul said of Miles. “He’s never done it before, but we’re super excited for it.”
Senior Rowan Gwin, who earned a WPIAL outdoor medal in the 1600 as a sophomore and a PIAA medal this year in cross country, tops the Foxes distance squad. Junior David Black also adds quality to the distance runners after qualifying for the PIAA cross country meet.
“We have a couple of other jumpers that look to be pretty good and some relay teams that look to be pretty good,” Moul said. “We had a pretty good boys cross country team this year, and a couple of the distance boys are looking to move into indoor. We should have a good quality, solid team. We should do well in some of these indoor meets. The last couple of years, we’ve been a little light on the state qualifiers. We’re hoping to maybe get some more state qualifiers.”
For the Foxes to have a good indoor season, Moul said it’s important to get outside.
“Last year, we had some pretty good gains in the indoor season because the weather was mild,” Moul said. “Kids wanting to do well and put the work in (will be important). I think we have that.”
The season begins Jan. 13 at Edinboro University.
