Inexperienced and young? The CSCS girls' track team will improve, coach says

It’s no secret: The Colorado Springs Christian School girls’ track and field team is going through a rebuilding period.And the Lions are just fine with that.

“I think it’s going to be a steep learning curve in the beginning of the season,” said coach Abbie Morgan, who’s in her first season. “I’d expect to see some pretty rapid improvements throughout the season.”

CSCS lost eight girls from last year’s squad to graduation. All of them were state qualifiers.

This season, the Lions are young and inexperienced. Leading the way is Lannan Abbott, who is one of just two CSCS seniors on the team.

She was the only underclassman on a 4x100-meter relay team that took sixth place after finishing in 50.45 seconds at the Class 3A state championships - behind winner Lutheran’s 48.95.Abbott, who is a cheerleader during the offseason, understands that her role has shifted. And she’s fine with that, too.

“I want to have fun and have a positive mindset heading into it,” said Abbott, who hopes to qualify at state in the jumping events and 300 hurdles. “I want to enjoy all the little moments and compete really well. I want to remember why I did track in the first place and that’s just to form a good relationship and have a good time.”

Another key athlete is sophomore Elisabeth Jensen, who competes in the 100 hurdles and jumping events.

Abbott hopes to shape the younger athletes.

“There’s so many different things that you can do,” she said. “It’s nice to have someone who knows the ropes. I just want to make sure they feel really comfortable and confident on the team and that they do their best. I hope that’s what I can help lead them to do.”

“I expect (Abbott) to lead this young team and be the one these young girls will look up to,” Morgan added. “I definitely see her stepping into that role.”

The Lions are rebuilding under the guidance of Morgan, a former runner at Division I’s Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina who took over the program after Mike Canton stepped down after 16 seasons.

She knows she’s in a unique situation, with some of the 15 girls trying out track events for the first time.

But the coach is not worried about the team’s progress.“We lost a lot experience and a lot of leadership,” Morgan said. “We have some girls who can step into that role.”