Snyder’s Faith Bethea competes in the long jump in the South Hudson Championship at Kearny High School on 5/14/21.Tom Horak | For NJ Advance Media

For the Snyder girls indoor track and field team, there’s plenty to be excited about on the heels of a historic cross country season that was all secondary to the tragic loss of head girls cross country and track and field coach Robert Arena.

When Snyder boys coach Isaiah Thomas took over the team — before he helped guide it to the program’s first-ever Hudson County and South Hudson cross country championships — he knew right away what he was inheriting.

“It started the day after he passed, (the team) told me and athletic director Sean Fallon they were getting on a bus and going to practice — they didn’t want to lose anything and wanted to still go out there and compete,” Thomas said. “It’s exactly what Arena would have expected from them, to compete no matter what, and go out there and work hard. It just shows the work ethic that coach Arena established in these girls. They come every day locked in, no fooling around during practice. They show up on time, go to the weight room after practice.”

And with that combination of tenacity, talent and work ethic, Snyder is primed for a big season on the indoor tracks.

Senior Faith Bethea is a standout athlete in several events, but her long and triple jumps have put her on the map among the best in New Jersey. She reached the Meet of Champions during the outdoor season last year, and went home with silver in the long jump, while also finishing 14th in the triple jump. But this season, her coach wants her focused on running.

“They’re aren’t as many jumps for the indoor season, so we’re really focused on the 55 and hurdles (for her),” Thomas said of Bethea, who also won outdoor sectional and group gold in the triple jump, and sectional gold and group bronze in the long jump last year.

Jezena Aponte is coming off a historic cross country season that saw the senior win the individual title at the county final - the program’s first individual champion since 2011 — and finish 12th at the sectional meet.

With the season turning to indoor track, Aponte is focused on dominating the 1,600 after reaching the group outdoor finals last year on two relay squads.

“She came to me at the end of the cross country season and said she really wanted to focus on attacking the mile, that’s going to be her goal,” Thomas said

And there are other promising athletes expecting to run longer races for Snyder. Sophomore Shyiona Allen is a talented youngster who is ready to make a big impact in her second year of varsity.

“She’s only a sophomore but she’s training with (Aponte), running, working out. I’m very interested to see her out there,” Thomas said. “She’s not on the level of a Jezena Aponte yet, but she’s getting there and progressing.”

Senior Ana Urbina is back to compete in the sprints and will also race in the hurdle events, as will junior AJ Balbutin. Junior Chairley Bido will race in the 400, anchor a strong 4x400 relay and contribute in the 800 after reaching last year’s outdoor group finals on all three relay squads.

Some other positions are still open — throwers, and some spots in the 55 and 400 — but Thomas is encouraged by what he’s seen from some newcomers to the squad.

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