SPRING SPORTS: S-VE TRACK & FIELD STAR HOPING COVID-19 WON'T END SEASON (2020-04-11)

BY TIM TAYLOR
Tioga County Sports Report
SPENCER — Ryleigh Clark had high expectations for herself and her S-VE track & field team this spring. Sadly, she and the other Panther athletes may not get a chance to find out just how good they could be due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"With all the talent on the team I had big expectations for the spring season," Clark said. "I know a lot of my teammates were putting in work for the season. We were looking to take the divisional title this year, maybe even the IAC title."

Schools are closed until at least April 29, leaving athletes 6 1/2 weeks to compete before the spring season ends June 14.

Clark feels it's hard to tell whether or not the season will resume.

"Things could clear up, sending us back to school and continuing our spring sports or Covid-19 will continue to have things shut down and we will not be able to return to our 2020 spring season," she said. "If the season was to be canceled I’d be absolutely crushed."

She believes both the boys and girls sides of the team had big things coming this season.

"We were both looking at being pretty successful," Clark said. "I, being a senior, and the rest of the seniors on the team will not get another chance at running high school track & field. Not having this seasoning will make it tough to run at the university I am attending in the fall. Coastal Carolina is Division I and going into a collegiate season with only being able to participate in one week worth of track season is not ideal."

The spring season in New York began with practices starting March 19, but the pandemic has forced S-VE to postpone its first five meets, including the only home event.

Clark competed in indoor track & field during the winter season, which obviously would have helped her this spring, but the pandemic has put a damper on her final season.

"I have been looking forward to this track season since the moment my last track meet was over last season," she said. "I had big goals for my senior season and I knew I could accomplish them if I put in the work. This year, instead of playing basketball like I have for the past five years, I decided to be a team of one for indoor track. It was a tough decision deciding between the two but I knew it’d be the right choice based off the goals I had for myself.

"Unfortunately Covid-19 has put a hold on this track season, which is cutting down the time I have to reach these goals — as well as giving me limited training options."

Clark said she's not getting in the training she'd like, but has been staying active by going on an occasional bike ride or run in case the season resumes.

Named to the All-Tioga County Team in the triple jump, 100-meter dash and 4x100 relay last year, Clark had her sights set on attaining high levels of success in her final season.

"Coming into this spring season, not only having big expectations for my team, I also had big expectations for myself," she said. "My junior year of track, being the overall IAC champion in triple jump and small school runner-up in long jump, I was looking to be that IAC champion again, I was looking to re-break the triple jump school record I set at sectionals last year, I was looking to make it all the way to the state championship meet this year. I just don’t think that will happen this year."  

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IN PHOTO: S-VE's Ryleigh Clark triple jumping during the indoor season. ... TCSR STOCK PHOTO COURTESY OF CHELA BUBNIAK.