Saranac Lake track and field team (Enterprise photo — Justin A. Levine)

SARANAC LAKE – With the biggest roster around, the Saranac Lake track and field team possesses no shortage of depth. But their biggest asset may be the leadership of student-athletes.

Saranac Lake has fielded just about 100 kids between the boys and girls sides, coached by Cy Ellsworth and Jason Wamsganz, respectively. High school track and field is scored not just by individual results, but also tallied as a team score. The more events a school can compete in, the better chance their team has to score. And the Red Storm have both the talent and numbers to succeed.

“It’s gone by really fast because I still feel like I’m a freshman and should be looking up to other people,” senior Sierra O’Mahony said. “Now I’m the senior giving other people advice.”

O’Mahony is a specialist on the team, competing in just the 3,00-meter, which is eight laps around the track.

“Hard work is a huge part, along with getting yourself ready,” junior Edina Cecunjanin said. “You’ve just got to believe in yourself and not say you can’t do it. As long as you work hard throughout the year, the hard work really does pay off.”

Cecunjanin is a sprinter, and said her goal is to run the 200-meter in under 28 seconds, noting that she’s just about 0.6-seconds off that pace.

In addition to deep numbers, several of the kids are already hoping to set school records.

“I love being able to be so clean in the ring and I love be able to watch it soar so cleanly through the air,” junior discus thrower Anna Elithorpe said. “It’s so fun.”

Dzihad Cecunjanin is a jumper for the boys squad, and is also looking to set a new school record.

“My biggest goal this year is to break the high jump record, which is six [feet], two and a half [inches], and I’m at five [feet], 10 [inches],” he said.

“My priorities are probably the 400 and the 800, I’m hoping to break school records for both of those,” senior Tyler Martin said. He added that in late March, he was just a couple of seconds off the record for both of those events. “I’m just going to train as hard as I possibly can, put in as much work as I possibly can. Hopefully, even if I don’t break records, I’ll be able to qualify for the state meet.”