The spring outdoor track and field season recently begun, but Greenwich High School’s girls team already looks as though its in midseason form.

The Cardinals sport a record of 2-0 to start their season, defeating FCIAC opponents Westhill and Stamford, with their latest win coming Monday against the Black Knights at Cardinal Stadium.

Winning the majority of the events, while producing a number of standout performances, Greenwich was victorious against Stamford, 103-38.

Featuring depth and talent in both the running and field events, the Cardinals should be tough for the opposition to top this spring and ready to contend for the team titles at the FCIAC and state postseason championship meets.

“We have a really strong team, but a few of us are injured now,” said Greenwich senior Kate Friedman, one of the Cardinals’ senior captains. “Our distance runners are really strong. I think we’re shaping up to have a good group of people who are all five or six and who can be under 5:30 in the mile, so I’m really excited.”

Friedman, Esme Daplyn and Kate Resnick are the Cardinals’ senior captains. One of the premier distance runners in the state, Daplyn, who has enjoyed a brilliant running career at GHS, did not compete in Monday’s home meet against Stamford, yet will soon return to action.

“I’ve had some hip problems again, I was able to  run today, but I’m just not racing just yet,” Daplyn said. “We’ve got a big meet next week that I’m saving up for.”

Daplyn, who has an All-American high school track resume, will continue her athletic career on the track team at Dartmouth College next season.

“I am really excited, I pretty much know all my future teammates by now, so it’s really exciting,” Daplyn said. “I’m looking forward to competing as a collegiate runner, but I’m trying to cherish the last season before I go.”

In Monday’s meet verus Stamford, junior Sophie Riche won three events for the Cardinals. Riche crossed the finish line first in the 100-meter hurdles, registering a time of 18.05 seconds – a personal-record time. Greenwich teammate Victoria Sullivan placed second (20.99, personal-record time) and Cardinals junior Grace LaFeve was third (22.47).

Riche was also the pole vault winner (6’6) and earned top honors in the meet in the triple jump event (34’3). Juliette Pelham, a sophomore, finished second in the triple jump (32’9, PR) and Kayah Armstrong had a third-place finish (32’4, PR) for the Cardinals.

Theresa Knuth, a sophomore, ignited the Cardinals in the field events. Knuth won the shot put competition with a throw of 30’5 – a PR and was the discus winner (67-0). She also was the victor in the javelin competition (86’5).

Jazzmina Sutton of Stamford placed second in the discus event (57’10) and GHS senior Joy Greco was third (57’60). Friedman finished first in Monday’s 1600-meter run against Stamford, clocking in at 5:18.05 – a PR for her in the race.

Like a group of her GHS teammates, Friedman is coming off a memorable indoor, winter track season.

“I was excited for indoor season going into it,” Friedman said. That nationals race was unexpected, where I ran a 5:04 and that just made me really excited for outdoor. I’m excited to carry that fitness into the season and smash all these records.”

Sophomore Margaret McCooe had an outstanding meet against the Black Knights. McCooe posted a first-place finish in the 800-meter race with a personal-record time of 2:25.52. Friedman also had a strong finish, taking second in 2:28.35, PR) and Cardinals teammate Orla Muir, a sophomore, had a third-place finish (2:37.89).

“Kate Friedman, she started off really fast, Kate took off at a 1:12 split for the 400 and I just tried to keep on as long as I can,” McCooe said. “The last 100 I was seeing stars and going in deep, I just finished it off. I’m happy with my time.”

“My 800 is my main event I was just trying to get closer to my times that I’ve goMy goal for this season is to try to get a sub 2:20 for the 800 and a sub 60 for the 400.tten in splits,” McCooe continued.

In the 400, McCooe turned in a winning effort, recording a PR time of 1:02.24. Teammate Nina Silver, a sophomore, finished second (1:06.02, PR) and Stamford freshman Sophia Grymaluk (1:08.70, PR) was third in the 400.

“My goal for this season is to try to get a sub 2:20 for the 800 and a sub 60 for the 400,” McCooe noted.

Greenwich won both relays against Stamford. Noelle Wilkinson, Skylar Aysseh, Silver and Pelham combined for a winning time of 52.64 in the 4×100 relay race. Stamford was second (53.05). McCooe, Muir, Friedman and Silver were the winners in the 4×400 relay (4:39.98). The Cardinals also placed second in the race (4:50.06).

“We want to be competitive at our championship meets – FCIAC, LLs and State Opens,” Esme Daplyn said, while discussing the Cardinals’ goals. “Our distance group again is really strong, so we just want everyone to stay healthy and we want to run a good 4×800 again and get everyone to nationals.”

Aysseh, a junior, won Monday’s 300 hurdles in 55.04, while Sydney Asmis, a GHS junior, took second (55.26) and Sullivan finished third (55.72).

Armstrong was the high jump winner for the Cards (4’10, PR), with Sullivan (4’2) and Francesca Lotufo (4’0) taking second and third, respectively for GHS.

Stamford junior Paige Wilks won the long jump (19’9, personal-record), while Riche placed second (17’0, PR). Pelham (16’5, PR) and Wilkinson (16’1) were third and fourth, respectively.

Sydney Friedman, a GHS sophomore, was second in the 3200 with a PR time of 13:22.76. Stamford sophomore Bianca Parrotta won the race in 12:39.87 and Greenwich junior Averi Geary was third in 13:40.82 (PR).

Wilkinson (13.18) and Silver (13.87) were third and fourth, respectively, in the 100-meter run, which was won by Stamford junior Bralynn Jacobs (12.91, PR). Wilkinson (27.78) and Sullivan (28.73) were also third and fourth in the 200-meter race, which also saw Jacobs finish first (26.62, PR).

Greenwich was also victorious in its season-opener against Westhill on April 4, 80.5-63.5.