Liam McDermott ’29
Madeline Husain ’29
her team’s success.
Photo Courtesy of Riyadh Rolls
Come to any girls’ winter track team practice and you’ll always be able to spot Co-Captain Ryann Newcomb ’26. Whether she’s leading warmups or setting the tone in brutal workouts, Newcomb’s presence has been indispensable for her team. Known for her steady leadership and fierce determination, Newcomb continues to help the girls’ track program reach unprecedented heights.
A student at EA since pre-school, Newcomb began running track when she was in sixth grade. Track had always been a crucial part of Newcomb’s life, as she grew up going to the Penn Relays, one of the most legendary track-and-field competitions in America, each year. As Newcomb continued to run track, she became increasingly fond of the sport. She states, “It’s a sport I fell in love with—even though I’d been doing other sports for way longer. It’s a sport that I have studied, that I know about… if people don’t know about something and they need help, I can help them. [I] really pour my everything into this.”
A natural talent, she quickly became a well-respected and skilled runner. Long-time teammate Gabby McKithen ’27 notes, “She has grit, which I think is the biggest thing that you need in track. Your mind is the only thing that stops you when you have [her] talent.” She continues, “Ryann is a very motivated person, and when she wants something she goes after [it] really hard.”
With her talent and dedication, Newcomb contributes in numerous ways to the team. She specializes in the 200 and 400-meter dash, while also being part of the 4×200 relay in the winter and the 4×100 relay during the spring. She’s also been known to step up in big moments. John Goens, head coach of the girls’ winter track team, says, “At the spring PAISAA finals, we needed to finish in front of GA. We were a few spots down in that 4x400m race, the last one of the day. Ryann took us from fifth to second place on her lap and put us in a position for our anchor leg to win. With that one race capping it, we beat GA by one point.”
Newcomb is also admired throughout the team for her kindness. Co-captain Sofia Gagliardi ’26 states, “She truly cares for everyone… always there for everyone, looking out for people besides herself. So as well as being a great runner, she’s also a great person.” Gagliardi also praises Newcomb’s leadership: “She steps up during warm-ups and leads our team through it,” adding, “She also leads by example, and she’s a really strong leader in the sprinting group.”
The future is bright for the girls’ winter track team after last season’s wins in both the Inter-Ac and PAISAA championships. Newcomb says, “I think we’ll have a great season indoors. I think we’ll have a really strong 4×400-meter relay. And I’m excited to see where the team goes in terms of states and everything. In terms of the spring, we are going for the Interac and PAISAA Championship again.”
As the heart of the girls’ track team, Newcomb will undoubtedly continue to be relied upon in the coming months for her kindness, firm leadership, and incredible work ethic. As the track program aims to keep rewriting the record books this season, there’s no question that Newcomb will be right in the center of it all, leading by example and pushing her limits every day.
