Young and Ready: La Joya Girls Preview

<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size:18px;"><strong>Peeking ahead to see what this spring holds....</strong></span></p>

Sophomore Alyssa Ennis looks to contribute this spring. Contributed Photo.

The 2014 Season was bright for the La Joya Girls Track & Field Program as they took home the Tolleson District Championship. Speaking with Coach Jacob Lambert he is enthused about his Lady Lobo 2015 Track and Field team which brings back a lot of individuals who qualified for state last season. Coach Lambert says the 2015 Theme will be “Work Harder, Get Better and Have Fun."

The Lady Lobos will be led this year by returning State Qualifiers Sophomores Imani Anthony (Relays) , Diamond Anderson (Relays) and Princess White (Relays), Thrower Tayla Pandell and Distance Runner Alyssa Rodriguez who had AIA State Provisional Marks in the 800, 1600 and 3200 last season. Imani, Diamond and Princess hope to contribute points in the sprint events as well. The big losses for the girls team was State Finalist Nikki Smith who ran the 100-200 and anchored both Sprint Relays. They also lost jumper Sebri Ellis who also ran both Sprint Relays and qualified in the open 400.

The Lady Lobos are looking to replace Nikki Smith and Sebri Ellis with 10 new Sprinters, Hurdler and Jumpers. The Distance team features about 8 new faces who have decided to participate in Track & Field coming over from the Soccer and Cross Country Teams. They also have some new faces competing in the Throwing Events.

With former All-American Sprinter Marcus Jones returning to coach expect the Sprint Crew to be in prime shape come time for the TUHSD Championships and the Division 2 State Championships. Sophomore Imani Anthony has stepped up this offseason to take charge of the Sprint Crew, while Junior Tayla Pandell and Sophomore Brianna Villafana have stepped up to lead the Lobo Throwers. Look for Distance Standout Alyssa Rodriguez to mold a young Distance Crew.

In years past the Sprints have been the strength of the team but this year the Lady Lobos look to be balanced across the board. The weakness of the team has normally been the Hurdles With the addition of Coach N'aithin Scott who will be working with hurdlers we will look to be more balanced as a team.

The Goals for the Lady Lobos this season is to first improve upon the marks from last season and to have fun as individuals and as a team. Secondly with all the talent returning in the Sprints, Field Events and new additions to the Hurdles and Distance Races, we are looking to repeat as Tolleson Union High School District Champions. That feat will be hard Coach Lambert says, “With a talented and loaded Tolleson High School Team, a Westview team that is always strong and upcoming Copper Canyon and Sierra Linda the task at hand will be very hard. Lastly we want to be represented in more than seven events at the State Championships in May."

If all goes well with the Lady Lobos barring any injuries they look to be a force in the West Valley and will have strong Sprint Relays competing at the State Championships come May.