A tradition continued, and that was a positive. Cathedral High School girls track, which has emerged as one of Indiana’s most-consistent programs in recent seasons, continued to be just that in 2024. It was an experienced, balanced group with a mix of youth. “We have a lot of young talent, and a strong senior class,” Irish track and field coach John O’Hara said. The Irish in 2024 qualified two athletes for the state meet: Junior Kate Kubacki in the 300-meter hurdles and sophomore Makenna Carpenter in the pole vault. “When you graduate some amazing talent like we have the last few years with state champions and state-title contenders, you wait for the next group to just naturally step up, and that's what they have done,” O’Hara said. The Irish finished fifth in the Section 19 meet at Lawrence Central with 66 points behind sectional champion North Central with 118 points. They then finished seventh in the Region 5 meet at Pike with 32 points behind regional champion North Central with 74 points. The Irish were led by a core of seniors that included Eliza Langfeldt, Lucille Marquart, Nichole Mayo and Ainsley Danilson. “The seniors were rock solid for us,” O’Hara said. “They stepped into a leadership role, which we kind of naturally ask them to do. We don't really have captains on our team. More often than not, the seniors and juniors kind of take grip of that role, and they understand it just based on their previous experiences with the other juniors and seniors when they were younger. “They consistently practiced. They consistently worked hard. They're academic all-state level type of kids. We're really pleased with that group.” The Irish in 2024 were led by strong postseason performances from: *Carpenter (first in pole vault in sectionals, 11-feet-6; second in regionals, 10-feet-6). *Kubacki (second in 300-meter hurdles in sectionals, 45.74; second in regionals in 44.52). She also registered the third-longest long jump in school history in 2024 and set a personal record in the 100 hurdles. “She diversified herself a little more this year,” O’Hara said. “She did a nice job this season and she has been a great leader for us as well.” *Langfeldt (second in 200 meters in sectionals, 25.82; fourth in 200 meters in regionals, 26.37). “She did an incredible job joining a new team in the second semester senior year, which you rarely see,” O‘Hara said of Langfeldt, who ran with the track team for the first time as a senior after being a top soccer player. *Junior Mallory Hanson (third in discus in sectionals, 94-02; 10th in regional, 96-03). *Danilson (third in pole vault in sectionals, 9-6; fourth in regionals in 10-0). *Marquart (third in 800 meters in sectionals, 2:21.92; seventh in 800 in regionals, 2:24.14), who qualified for regionals with a personal record in the sectional meet after missing six weeks with injuries. “That was impressive,” O’Hara said. “I was really happy to see a senior like that move on.” *Junior Annah Wasiak (sixth in 400 meters in sectionals, 1:04.16). *Mayo (seventh in 100-meter hurdles in sectionals, 16.54). *Sophomore Camille Spencer (eighth in 3,200 meters in sectionals, 13:07.41). *Junior Grace Higgins (ninth in 1,600 meters in sectionals, 5:53.98). *Freshman Mary Leppert (ninth in 400 meters in sectionals, 1:05.62). *Wagner (10th in 1,600 meters in sectionals, 6:05.90), (ninth in 800 meters in sectionals, 2:38.69). *Junior Ashlee Naaman (10th, 3,200 meters in sectionals, 13:36.07). The 4x100-meter relay team – sophomore Sophie Miller, sophomore Arynn Garrard, freshman Makayla Truitt and freshman Kelly O’Brien – finished fourth at the sectional meet in 51.42 and 14th in the regional meet in 52.00. The 4x400-meter relay ream – sophomore Brooklyn Bolin, Langfeldt, Kubacki and junior Addison Stanley – finished third in the sectional 4:05.32. The 4x400 team finished fifth at regionals in 4:06.51 with Marquart running for Stanley. “We have some really high-level talent, and we’re still trying to build that depth with some of the youngsters,” he said. “The kids have handled it really well. We've grown from about 28 kids three years ago to about 60 on the girls' side. “It's great for the program because all boats rise at high tide. The more athletes you can get out, the more talent that you can kind of produce on the track and the field. “It gives you a little bit more energy, a little bit more pop, a little bit more vigor at every practice, which is a lot of fun.” With six or seven of the 60-member team seniors, O’Hara said the future is bright. And he said the 2024 certainly set the tone for that future. “First and foremost, I’ll remember how much this team battled through adversity,” O’Hara said. “We had some early injuries going on, especially with Lucy Marquardt. I give her all the credit. She could've shut it down and didn't. She stayed the course, tried to work as hard as she possibly could to keep going and it rewarded her. “It was kind of a trickledown effect that just made everybody so much better.”