Lofty goals have become the norm for the Hopkinton High School girls track program, with the team once again setting its sights on winning every dual meet in the Tri-Valley League.

“We always try to be undefeated in the dual meets and win the TVL showcase,” coach Jean Cann said following the Hillers’ season-opening victories over Medfield and Westwood.
Early-season snow and a solar eclipse so far are the only things that have interrupted Hopkinton’s momentum. Cann is also looking to see her team compete well in the state relay and divisional state meets, though the former is scheduled close to a match with fellow TVL power Holliston, which might affect the lineup.

As for the state meet, Cann said, “It would be nice to win it. I don’t know if we are there quite this year, but we would like to be in contention and get as many people as possible qualified for the Meet of Champions.”

Hopkinton has no shortage of athletes who can help the team tick off each of those goals this spring. Despite being relatively new to track and field, Loryn Canty has been a top performer.

“She just started with us last year, but she has been a league All-Star in all three seasons so far,” Cann said, referring to both the winter and spring campaigns. “We don’t expect anything different this spring. She is the anchor of the 4×100 relay and she was undefeated in the shot put and the dash in indoor.”

Canty won the TVL winter title in the dash and will be a point scorer this spring in the 100, 200, 4×100 relay and shot put.

Italian exchange student Alice Brambati comes into the spring after a strong indoor season and is trying the triple jump for the first time.

“She picks things up very quickly and she is very coachable,” Cann said. “I think she is going to be very good in the triple jump, hurdles and the 4×100 relay.”

Elyse Srodawa is back and will be one of the league’s top distance runners. Hopkinton also will rely on a strong group of middle distance runners, including Stephanie Johnson, Bridgid Cavanaugh, Meaghan Burdulis, Chloe Tumbleton, Bethel Flanagan and Camille Perlov.

Elena Davies will throw the javelin along with Savannah Rivera, and both Rivera and Mary Finnegan will be sprinters. Cann has been impressed by her high jumpers, including freshman Evelyn Woodbury, Bella Walkiewicz and Aila Chase. The trio swept the event in the team’s first two meets.

“This is the best group of high jumpers we have had for quite a while,” Cann said.

Hopkinton should see plenty of scoring this spring from multi-event athlete Josie Hopkins. Kiley Locke is showing promise in the high jump and is a top hurdler. And some of the team’s freshmen already have begun to make an impact.

“There is a large number of them who have been great this spring, they have all been super dedicated as a class,” Cann said. “They are probably the strongest class we have had since the class of 2020, and that’s the year we won the state title. So it’s a good sign of things to come if they stick with it.”