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North Attleboro enters the outdoor season confident in two things.

#1. They present a formidable challenge for the competition by bringing top-flight athletes to every event.

#2. In the Hockomock League that guarantees you absolutely nothing.

What is likely is that they will continue their winning ways. Since 1979 North Attleboro has never had a losing season. In that time they've run their record to an incredible 245-24-2.

Captains Kathleen Hennessey, Djerica Lamousnery and Liz Malone are joined by 81 other athletes, all determined to keep the winning ways alive.

As always, it starts in sprints. This year NA will be led by indoor 55M champion Hennessey and '06 200M runner-up Kristen McLoughlin. They'll have plenty of support from senior Sadhana Yoder plus sophomores Julianne Cappadona, Carolyn Udall and Lauren Goldberg.

Hennessey will also lead strong crews in the high jump and long jump. She isn't the only 16' horizontal jumper on the team. Hennessey is joined by sophomore Alex Gutauskas who set freshmen records in both the long jump and triple jump. McLoughlin was third in the long jump at the Hock Championships last year. Both athletes ahead of her have since graduated. You'd think that with three athletes over 16', the roster would be set, but there are at least three more athletes expecting to eclipse that mark, Cappadona leading the field.

Hennessey is joined in high jump by 5-footer Sara Krasney and a host of 4'8 jumpers. The triple jump at first glance is not as deep, but 33-footer Gutauskas is joined by Katy Flannery, and Kristen Kaelblein.

Throws should prove just as strong. North returns the '06 league champion, Liz Malone. Though she's North's only 100-footer, there are some returning strong arms in Ashley Plante and Cassie Ainsworth who also are looking at that barrier.

In shot put, indoor league champion Kelsey Achin is joined by 30+ thrower Malone, her quickly improving soph sister Kathryn and 29' thrower Stephanie Wynn.

The javelin could prove to be the best event of all. It would be a surprise if North didn't field at least six throwers over 90', with Rachel Whiting and Ainsworth quite capable of 100' throws.

The hurdling crew made vast improvements indoors. There is plenty of young talent to support the upperclassmen. Junior Alix Vandeventer was a league meet point-scorer at both distances last year, a close runner-up to the league champ at the 300M distance. Senior captain Lamousnery is also strong at both distances, while much is expected from frosh Christy Deininger who was the surprise #2 at the indoor league meet.

Mid distance will be led by junior Amanda Parker, looking to go sub-60 and sub-2:20 in the 400 and 800. She is supported by last year's league 800M champion, Krasney. The longer distances will be covered by Stephanie McNamara, who was last year's outdoor two-mile champion. She is expected to challenge school records in both the mile and deuce. Her supporting cast is deep, including indoor unsung hero Marrah Fry in the mile and two-mile indoor placer Stephanie Moses. Depth will be provided by Shannon Swanson, Katie Czepiel and Chelsea Gavilanez.

Should meets come down to the relay, North is in a good position. They have enough depth to keep quality relay teams available and plan to continue their 4X100M dominence. Both Hennessey and McLoughlin return from the team that placed 3 rd in New England last year at sub-49. There are no less than 6 runners with hopes to join them in attempting an 8 th consecutive trip to New England competition.

The 4X400M will also stay strong. The entire indoor team of McLoughlin, Parker, McNamara and Flannery is ready to make a run at the school record of 4:05, a goal that seems quite possible after their 4:07.66 indoor record at state finals.

Most of those names are familiar by now, but the emergence of new talent will have just as much to say about the prospects for team success. Bianca Rosa, Nicole Matte and Amy Goss are just a few of the names that are expected to show up as regulars in the scoring column, and if the first week is any indication there are more surprises on the horizen.