The 2020 Rumson-Fair Haven girls track team did not get the opportunity to defend its Group 2 state title.
The RFH girls track team was poised for a big season after winning its first outright state championship in 2019. Coach Tim McLoone saluted his nine seniors who didn’t get a chance to defend the Group 2 title but made a huge impact on one of the area’s most consistent programs.
Natalie Caulfield
“Natalie was a solid varsity performer in the hurdles and high jump. She, unfortunately, suffered an injury during the winter season in the high jump that took her out of competition for an extended period of time and ended her season prematurely. Healed and ready to go, we were looking forward to her improvement on the track this spring.”
Ellen Daly
“Ellen returned to track as a senior and was expected to be a big part of this season in the 800m and 1600m after a strong winter campaign. She was always notable for her drive to the “front” of races and we knew whenever she raced it would be an all-out effort.”
Eva Farr
“Eva improved every year for us in the 200m and 400m and was a key part of the school’s legendary 4x400m relay. Eva ran many lead-off legs for RFH because we knew she was dependable and would always rise to the occasion. She was a relay qualifier in the Easterns, States, and Meet of Champions races. It could be said that Eva improved as much as anyone in the program.”
Lily Fleming
“Lily was a varsity sprinter for several seasons at RFH. Her best distances were 100m and 200m, but she also ran some competitive 400m efforts. We were looking forward to this being her best season yet.”
Sarah Handerhan
“Sarah was a versatile performer in a number of events both on the track as well as in the field. She had shown improvement in prior years and we were anticipating more of the same this year.”
Lily Orr
“Lily will graduate as the most-honored track performer in RFH history and arguably the greatest athlete overall in school history. Between winter and spring track she holds 11 RFH records and was the Shore Conference Track Athlete of the Year. Among other great races, her scintillating anchor leg on the 4x400m relay brought RFH home with the Eastern States Championship. She was also the State Group 400m Champion three years in a row. Lily will continue her running career at the University of Pennsylvania in the Ivy League.”
Jordyn Osofsky
“Jordyn was the kind of runner every coach appreciates and wants to work with. She began with very modest talent for running but worked continuously, never complaining, and improved greatly with each passing year leading to her being named captain.”
Ryan Pattwell
“Ryan was one of those rare runners who competed in cross country, winter track, and spring track for all four years. She was a varsity performer and was talented at everything from the 400m to the 1600m and ran a number of excellent varsity relay legs.”
Eliana Swell
“Eliana was known as a fierce competitor from the moment she came out for track. She also showed dramatic improvement over each season, eventually becoming a championship-level runner at the 400m, 800m and 1600m, the latter of which she was State Champion. She retires from RFH with three school records and, combining with Lily Orr, led the 2019 team to county, Shore Conference, and state championships.”
The article originally appeared in the May 21 – 27, 2020 print edition of The Two River Times.
