HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM: Little Hawks off to fast start on indoor track

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By Daniela Perret, City High seniorIOWA CITY - After only two weeks of practices in undesired weather, members of the City High girls' track and field team made their way to two meets, one of which was the Demon Invitational hosted at the University of Iowa indoor track last week.'I think for the most part the meets went really well, the team put forth a really great effort,' senior Ellen Carman said. 'But obviously the times aren't where we want them to be at the end of the season. They were a little lagging, especially for sprinters because it's hard to get that speed specific, technique specific work in without a track.'The outdoor track has been covered in snow the past few months and that, along with the record low temperatures, has caused the team to have many of their practices indoors. But while the team has not had desired practices, it still competed and met the standard of excellence in multiple events in their first two meets.Highlights for the Little Hawks at the Demon meet included the 3,200-meter relay, made up of freshman Mary Arch, senior Soumba Traore , sophomore Fanta Traore and senior Morgan Sammons, and Carman winning the 1,500m run.'It was good to get our first meet in, considering we haven't had much training,' co-head coach Joe Graf said. 'I think they competed very well, a lot of younger girls got in their first races of their careers.'While the Demon Invite was going on, other members made their way to the Quad Cities to compete in Rock Island Invitational. Highlights included the 800 relay made up of sophomore Delaney Johnson, freshman Lauren Caris, sophomore Maddie Deprenger and junior Hazel Crew, and freshman Ana Pienta in the 200.'Everyone competed very strongly,' Graf said. 'They all competed to the finish line, everyone was nervous but they all gave their best effort.'See more at: www.thelittlehawk.com