By BUTCH HARMON
Thanks to the distance running skills of the Gilbert sisters, the Owosso girls track team has been enjoying success the last few track seasons.
With Chloe Gilbert and her sister Claire Gilbert, the Owosso girls surprised the prognosticators by placing second in the Capital Area Athletic Conference Red division last year.
Chloe is in college this year and was a member of the University of Michigan cross country team last fall. Claire, a junior, is leading the way for this year’s Owosso team along with some help from her younger sister Catie Gilbert, a freshman on the team.
“They have been a boost to our program,” Owosso coach Jeff Sawyer said. “They all work hard and they are all good kids. They are also pretty good soccer players, and Chloe was on the soccer team her first two years before coming out for the track team as a junior.”
Chloe made a big impact on the track team and culminated her high school career by setting the school record in the two-mile run.
Claire also turned in a big year last year as a sophomore. She earned first-team, all-state honors and set the school record in the mile and was also a state qualifier in the 800-meter run. Claire and Chloe both earned academic all-state honors.
While Chloe has gone on to the University of Michigan, Claire still has a sister on the team in Catie. Unlike her old her older sisters, Catie is not concentrating on the distance runs. Instead, she is a versatile runner who also specializes in the pole vault.
“Catie is a little different right now from her sisters in that she likes the pole vault,” Sawyer said. “She is a real good pole vaulter. It’s hard to distance run and pole vault, so right now I’m trying her in a number of events. She can run anything from the 100 to the two mile. She was on the cross country team, and having her around helps.”
While the Trojans started the season a little slow due to some injuries, they are looking to round into shape and challenge for the league title once again.
“We had a few injuries and some illness but we are back on track,” Sawyer said.