To my crazy, lovable, never-a-dull-moment CATF seniors:

It has been an absolute JOY. 

Thank you for the laughs, for inspiring me, and for always making my heart so full. Long live CON!, RAD!, backwards lap, the BELL, K2, shenanigans, girls team tie dye, and the Coach Hall nod. 

Know that the traditions you have set and memories you have made will stay with you long after your time at CA, and will impact you in more ways than you can even imagine. 

I hope you never stop cheering for others, running your own race, working together, having fun and believing in your individuality and uniqueness, and the power that it has to impact a life and change the world. I know each one of you have, for me. 

Believing in you, always!

Everyone, we had a short time together this spring. So much potential. So much promise. You all came on board with energy, commitment and an earnest desire to learn and improve. This year started off with a bang and then was interrupted by a virus. This may always be known as “the year that could have been”. But we all face adversities and it’s how we respond to them that we learn about ourselves, learn from these experiences and move forward. The best of luck to all the senior throwers in all of their endeavors. The best in your lives are yet to come.

Emma Brown, a 2-year track & field athlete, competing in the sprints and jumps, has been an enthusiastic, positive presence on our team. Emma uplifts everything she does with her positive energy, and we were so glad to have her back on the team in 2020! Emma’s parents are Jill and Michael Brown, and she will be attending UNC-Chapel Hill in the fall. 

Victoria Du, a 4-year Track & Field athlete, competing in the distance events, Victoria has been a team leader for the distance runners and has been a huge part of our girls team culture throughout her years on cross country and tack. Victoria has been a dedicated year-round runner who has worked hard an improved immensely in her four years. Victoria is a key member and personality in our strong senior girls distance group and she will be missed next year! 

Alexandra Ellison, a 4-year track & field athlete, competing in the sprints and the middle distance events, Alexandra has been a charismatic team leader and captain. Alexandra has been a top athlete in our girls sprint group, specializing in the 400m, where she has scored at the TISAC and State level. Alexandra has also been a leader with our distance program, running the 800m and cross country, and has been a founding leader of our Indoor Track program. She worked hand in hand with Coach Hall on projects and initiatives throughout her career, becoming an instrumental part of team culture and traditions through her enthusiasm, creativity, and leadership. Alexandra could always be counted on to lead the sprint group, as well as help out the coaching staff in innumerable ways. In her senior year, she assisted our new sprint coach, Coach Staples, get acclimated, and was the star veteran that every coach needs. Alexandra showed her teammates what needed to be done both through her words and through her work ethic on the track. She came prepared to work every day. She’ll be a leader in whatever sphere she finds herself in future. Alexandra’s parents are Anne and Matt Ellison, and she will be attending Georgia Tech in the fall. 

Hannah George, a 4-year track & field athlete, competing in the distance events, and a team captain, Hannah has been a top athlete and key leader for the track and cross country programs for the past four years. Scoring at the TISAC and State level in cross country and track, Hannah was the 2019 State Runner-up in the 1600m. Hannah is known for her toughness, determination, and competitive fire, and has shown great focus and resilience over her career. She has been a great leader for our younger distance runners and athletes. A person of impeccable character, Hannah has been a great role model and a key member of our team. Hannah’s team leadership includes contributing to four consecutive TISAC Track & Field Championships, two TISAC Cross Country Championships, one Cross Country State Championship, and three Cross Country State Runner-up finishes. Hannah’s parents are Jenn and Troy George, and she will be attending Wake Forest in the fall. 

Shanelle Jayawickreme, a first-year track & field athlete, competing in the sprints and hurdles, turned in her dancing shoes for track spikes and hurdles. She attacked the hurdles head on with little fear and gave everything she had. We enjoyed Shanelle’s positive presence on the team which added a lot even in the short time she was with the program. 

Ava Lathan, a 4-year track & field athlete, competing in the distance events, has been a multi-time All-Conference and All-State runner in cross country and has contributed a great deal to the girls track team. Ava was the 2017 State Runner-up in cross country and has been a top distance runner with the track team. She has been a key part of our girls team culture and our successful girls distance program over the past four years. Ava’s team leadership includes contributing to four consecutive TISAC Track & Field Championships, two TISAC Cross Country Championships, one Cross Country State Championship, and three Cross Country State Runner-up finishes.

Lia Lathan, a 4-year track & field athlete, competing in the distance events, and a team captain, has been a multi-time All-State athlete in cross country and has been a top runner in our girls track distance program. Lia has been a team leader and captain and has played an instrumental role in bringing our girls team together and developing our girls distance group’s strong team culture. Lia and Ava frequently hosted girls distance team get-togethers that became a staple of the close bond within the girls distance group. Lia’s team leadership includes contributing to four consecutive TISAC Track & Field Championships, two TISAC Cross Country Championships, one Cross Country State Championship, and three Cross Country State Runner-up finishes.

Cindy Li, a first-year track & field athlete, competing in the throws, Cindy was the captain of our women’s throwers. Even though Cindy never threw shot or discus before this year, she came on like a storm. She demonstrated great enthusiasm, a positive, can-do attitude, leadership, and was a good role model and example to others. She was fun and always acted like she was having fun. She wanted so much to throw correctly and far. It was a pleasure getting to know her and working with her. She will do well in all her future endeavors. 

Mesha Mumford, a 2-year track & field athlete, competing in the sprints and throws, has been a top thrower for our program. We were excited to have Mesha back on our team in 2020, as she is one of the top throwers in the TISAC conference. Mesha has great physical strength and her shot put throws were the farthest on the women’s team. She was always serious about improving herself, committed to excellence, and she enjoyed the challenge. Mesha was a pleasure to work with. When she puts her mind to something, she can achieve anything.

Keely Murphy, a 4-year track & field athlete, competing in the distance events, and a team captain, has been a multi-time All-TISAC and a 2018 All-State athlete in cross country, and has contributed as one of our star distance runners on the track team over the past four years. Keely’s dedication, determination, toughness, and commitment to the team and her teammates has helped maintain the strong and successful team culture on the girls track & field team and girls cross country team for the past four years. Keely’s team leadership includes contributing to four consecutive TISAC Track & Field Championships, two TISAC Cross Country Championships, one Cross Country State Championship, and three Cross Country State Runner-up finishes. 

Cate Pitterle, a first-year track & field athlete, competing in the throws and sprints, was totally new to track this year. A successful golfer, Cate’s golf experience helped as she felt the benefits to throwing early on with many “transferable skills.”  Most athletes struggle with these throwing concepts and techniques. But for Cate, this was almost second nature and she learned quickly. She combined good technique with speed and strength. Her early attempts at the discus were quite impressive. Cate has a positive, can-do attitude and personality and will do well in anything she focuses on.

Erin Singleton, a first-year track & field athlete, competing in the sprints, joined us from a successful career as a golfer. It takes a sense of adventure to move from golf to the track, which are so different in so many ways. However, Erin’s dedication, determination, and attention to detail were just as at home on the track team, and Erin added just the kind of personality the track team likes to have among our ranks! 

Christiana Swift, a 2-year track & field athlete, competing in the jumps, Christiana was a great pupil of her event and improved in the long jump throughout her rookie junior season. More than this, Christiana was a great team member and teammate. She enjoyed her afternoons with the team and was an enthusiastic, positive part of our team and jumps group culture. 

Maddy Walker, a 3-year track & field athlete, competing in the sprints, is one of the top sprinters in our program’s history; a multi-time All-TISAC athlete, Maddy was named TISAC Player of the Year for Track & Field in 2019. Maddy has also been one of our top scorers at the TISAC and State level, and has been central to our Girls team’s success over the past three years, which has been part of five consecutive Girls Team TISAC Championships from 2015-2019.