Mountain View track team sizzles

STAFFORD — When the Mountain View girls’ track team took first place as hosts of the Wildcat Invitational, it wasn’t exactly a case of home cooking.

No, this team has been sizzling since the start of the season — and is in no mood to cool down.

The favorites in the Commonwealth put together a supreme recipe of wins on April 10. That day, the Wildcats finished the day at the top of the final standings, easily beating second pace Loudoun

Valley, third place Colonial Forge and the remainder of the 14-team field.

But it didn’t prove to be an eyebrow-raiser for the team’s much-satisfied head coach, Dave Davis.

“We have pretty high expectations on what we do when we go to each meet,” he said. “The girls are starting to get to that next level. So, I’m not surprised at all by what they’ve done.”

The 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter relay teams shined in their respective races. Individually, it was Kimberley Ficenec and Courtnee Whitaker who had the star performances. Ficenec claimed the top spot in the 800-meter event with a time of 2:19.52. Whitaker won the 100-meter hurdles in 15.92 seconds — a just reward in a year of hard work.

“I’ve been pushing myself more than ever,” she said. “I’m trying to do what I need to do in order to become first in districts and to try to qualify for states.”

One week later, the Wildcats took their show to the Gus Lacy Track Classic at Fork Union Military Academy on April 17.

Different week, different meet, same story.

The 3,200-meter relay group had a repeat performance, as did Whitaker in the 100-meters.

Davis worked a little overtime as she crossed the line first in the 1,600-meter event.

In the end, it was all Wildcats at the top of the team leaderboard.

“It doesn’t matter where we go, we just want to compete and win,” said head coach Dave Davis.

Where they go next is to Freedom High School on Saturday. Many are fully confident that the winning trend will continue right through the most important points of the season.

“I really think our team is set to get first place in the district,” Whitaker said. “Of course, I’m hoping for the same thing in regionals as well.”

Davis feels that his group is starting to turn the corner at just the right time.

“We’re progressing pretty well,” he said. “The weather’s starting to get nicer, which means we have more time to practice outdoors. So, you start to feel good about yourself. Everything that they’ve done in the past is starting to pay off competitively.”

Brian Wright is a contributing writer for the Stafford County Sun. Reach him at info@staffordcountysun.com.