With the emergence of warm weather, there will be constant reminders of spring amongst us: no more winter coats, fewer clothes, barbeques, and the vaunted Columbia High School spring track teams racking up wins and All-Americans.

Headed by reigning Essex County Girls Track Coach of the Year Lisa Morgan, Columbia couldn't wait for the season to start. In March, they competed in the Nike Indoor Nationals in Boston, and the girls made their presence felt.

The girls 4x400 team, with All-Americans TyVonna Johnson, Kelsey Jackson, Kayann Richards, and Brittney Jackson finished fourth in the nationals, with a time of 3:53.99.

Although she doesn’t want to put any pressure on team, Coach Morgan feels the Cougars’ longstanding tradition of excellence in track and field events should be matched this year. She feels they have "excellent athletes—not just our All-Americans," and is ready for her charges to show and prove.

The boy’s team of Kharique Bell, Stephen Wiggins, Terry Anderson, and D.J. Roberts, finished fifth overall but had a school-record time of 3:27.07 in the 4x400 meter relay.

Among Coach Morgan’s returning underclassmen athletes are super sophomores Brandon Kadan for the boys and Mideline Belcher for the girls. Morgan, who should know something about grooming track and field contenders, is extremely excited about this season’s prospects.