The indoor track season is already underway, and there’s plenty of talent in Hampshire County this winter. With PVIAC Meet No. 3 set for this Sunday at Smith College in Northampton, here are just a few of the top performers to keep an eye on the rest of the season: 

Northampton

The Northampton girls team has shined early, sweeping their first PVIAC meet to jump out to a 3-0 start to the season. 

Even with the graduation of some important seniors, Northampton has impressive depth this season. Allie Sullivan is back and looking strong in the sprints, Camilla Brewer has been dominant in the hurdles, Malia Silver has impressed in the mile, and though she hasn’t run yet this season, Maeve O’Neil is another top performer in the distance events. 

Ella Hoogendyk, Tess Geis-Benton, Odessa Gianesin, Charlotte Shimpach and Emily Lippiello are all threats in the mid-distance events, with Geis-Benton also capable of running longer events as well. 

Allison Edmands and Alya Mourad are also worth keeping an eye on as the season progresses. 

Ryland Breen will lead the boys in sprints, doing well in the 55-meter dash and Juan Jose Adams Causton has looked excellent in the long jump early. 

Xander Lane and Davis Wheat should both help the Blue Devils in the mid distance and longer events, and Alex Sirois has broken the three-minute mark in the 1,000 meter run. Jonathan Parker Yourga has also looked promising in the two mile run. 

Though he hasn’t raced yet this season, expect Theodore King-Pollet to be one of the top performers in the long distance events. 

Holyoke

Holyoke has an impressive star in sophomore Yasani Thompson this year, who has been tearing up the 55 meter dash early this season. Thompson has already dropped a 7.53-second time in the event and has won both of the PVIAC meets this year. 

Jaylene Moquin is one of the team’s top hurdlers this season, and Julia Guzik has had a strong start in the middle distance events. 

On the boys’ side, Jaden Diaz is back and is already making noise in the throwing events. In the second meet of the year, Diaz secured a first-place finish in the shot put with a 44-foot heave. 

Distance runner Elijah Quinn is also going to be one of the Purple Knights top performers, as will sophomore Ryan Kennedy in the middle-distance events. 

Amherst

There’s no other way to put it – the Amherst boys team is stacked this year. 

Back and healthy is David Pinero Jacome, along with twin brother Miguel Pinero Jacome, both of who are phenomenal in the middle distance races. Add in underclassmen Nico Lisle and Owen Platt, who are also budding stars in the mid-distance races, and veteran runners like Kyle Yanko, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a team that can keep up with Amherst in the middle and distance events, especially when it comes to the relays. 

It doesn’t stop there – last year’s Daily Hampshire Gazette Outdoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year Logan Alfandari is back and ready to dominate the throws again. In addition, teamamate Moniha Krouch is back in the throws as well; they have the ability to go 1-2 in shot put in most competitions.

Add in other competitors like Miles Jeffries, Elias Katsaros and Brendan Camphor, and the ‘Canes are going to be a tough team to beat. 

On the girls’ side, Ololara Baptiste has been impressing in the sprints; she’s placed in the top five of the 55 meter dash in both PVIAC meets. 

Brooklyn Court will hold things down in the field events, namely the long jump, and teammates Claire Kennedy, Brooke Nedeau, Ella and Ruby Austin and Kora Brissett are other athletes to watch as well. 

Though she hasn’t competed yet, Moriah Luetjen could also be a strong competitor for the ‘Canes in the sprints and mid-distance events. 

Hampshire

Middle and long distance runners may be some of the Raiders’ biggest strengths this season. 

Keegan Butler and Kathleen Barry have both been solid early for Hampshire in the longer running events and are primed for strong indoor seasons. 

Charlotte Letendre has excelled in the sprints and Natalie Dunlap has looked strong early in the middle distance events. Ashley Cortis is looking to hold down the throws and Maggie Lashway will be another to watch in the middle to long distance events. 

Thanks to a strong cross-country contingent, the Hampshire boys team has a strong middle and long distance unit. Nick Brisson, Owen Cubi, Gavin Dafonte, Tim Cahill, Nicholas Elias-Gillette, Oscar Schiff and Zach Jones are all dangerous from the 600 to the two mile, and provide serious depth that will give Hampshire an edge in competition. 

But it’s not just the longer distance events the Raiders are strong in – Jaiden Kudelka can do it all for Hampshire in the field events and sprints, posting strong showings in the long jump, 55 dash and 300 dash early this season. 

Frontier

Last year, the Frontier girls were league champions, going a perfect 8-0 during the indoor season. They’ll be looking to replicate that success this season. 

Nicole Plasse and Hannah Davis are two of the athletes that Frontier will lean on this season, along with distance runners Leah Gump, Addison Morrey and Liv Christensen. The Redhawks also have a strong throwing contingent featuring Lilly Novak, Micky McCarthy and Abbigayle Grover. 

On the boys’ side, Ben Cachiguango has looked good early, competing in multiple events for the Redhawks and placing top five in all of them at the team’s lone PVIAC meet appearance. Amory Maxey and Aidan Valderrama should both be strong performers in the mid-distance events along with Charles Dennis in the longer events. 

If they can stay healthy, Frontier’s impressive depth will be their biggest asset this season. 

South Hadley

There’s a lot of newness around South Hadley this year – they have a new coach in Suzanne Williams, and they’re also starting a co-op with Granby this winter. 

Abigail Gelinas has raced off to a fast start this season (literally and figuratively) in the shorter events, already qualifying for two state events. The trio of Gelinas, Lauren Marjanski and Allison Fleury should dominate the sprints this season. Emma Levreault has also shown great versatility early, finding success both in the mid-distance and throws events. 

That co-op is going to give the Tigers a great boost in the distance events in both the boys and girls competitions. Granby student Quinlin Cook has been racing well in the long distance events, as should Addison Hill, though she hasn’t raced yet this season. 

On the boys’ side, Granby student Nathan Hutchinson didn’t wait long to make his mark on the South Hadley team. Like Gelinas, Hutchinson has already qualified for two state events, and has been dominating in the long distance events. 

Jameson Weber will also be someone to watch indoors, placing well in the 55-meter hurdles and high jump early.