Carrollwood Day School Track and Field Preview

The Carrollwood Day School's track and field team is small, but they are not bereft of talent. A few returning athletes - and even some new ones - have helped make the Patriots respectable. The teams will compete today at the Steinbrenner Invitational at University of South Florida.

Here's a look at both squads.

The Boys:

The boys are led by Sal Cuono, who is in his third year with the team. The program is only three years old, so one could say he is the father of the program. Cuono threw discus in high school in New Jersey and attended Purdue University where he played football.

Two athletes will be missing from this year’s team, and they will be sorely missed.

Daruis Bing graduated last year, but left his mark. At districts last year, he placed third in the 200m and won first place in the long jump. He would go on to regionals and place 7th in the 200-meter and third in the long jump.

Mak Djulbegovic placed fifth overall in districts last year, and is just a senior. However, Mak also plays on the basketball and football team. Juggling the two along with schoolwork was too much for Djulbegovic, so he will not be competing this year.

In their place, CDS will look to sophomore Robert Davis. Davis will run the 100-meter, the 200-meter, the 4x100-meter relay and the long jump. He has jumped 18 feet unofficially, and according to Cuono, was “exceptional” at districts and regionals last year.

Davis placed third at districts last year in the 100-meter and, “should break the 10’s in his 100-meter this year."

Sophomore Nate Lewis will compete in the: 100-meter, 200-meter, 400-meter and 4x100-meter relay.

“Nate is learning how to run properly, and hopefully, will be in good shape to run stronger events by districts,” said Cuono.

Also returning is Junior Deuce Gruden. Deuce is also on the football team and he will run in the 4x100-meter relay. Deuce will also compete in the 800-meter.

“He is a strong runner in the 800-meter, and is in excellent condition,” said Cuono.

The Girls:

The girls team has first-year coach Adia Armstrong at the helm. Armstrong coached middle school and club track in Los Angeles before moving to Florida. She competed on the UCLA track team in the 400-meter, 4x400-meter relay, 4x100-meter relay and the 400-meter/200-meter/100-meter race.

Armstrong’s philosophy is, “Put in the work now so you can see the results later.”

Brianna Knot will be missed from the team this year. She won districts last year in the 100-meter.

Freshman Dana Bowes will try to make up for that loss. Bowes will run the 100-meter, 200-meter and the 400-meter.

Junior Bailey Drury returns to the team after placing second at districts last year, in the 200m. She would go on to finish fifth at regionals with a time of 27:52.

Junior Katie Takeuchi and sophomore Rebecca Liller will both run the 800-meter and the 1600-meter.

Rising star Alex Schweitzer is just a freshman but is school's best shot at placing in the long jump and 300-meter hurdles.

Coach Armstrong tried her out in hurdles for the first time this year, and said that “she’s awesome at it.”

“She placed in the top ten at the last big invitational we went to. That’s what we’re hoping for on Saturday.”

For more information on CDS sports, go to: http://www.carrollwooddayschool.org/page.cfm?p=65.