“It doesn’t matter if you are the fastest or the best … there’s a place for everyone to find something that they’re good at,” said teacher Erin Todd of the Moorestown High track-and-field program, which recently kicked off its spring season.
The township high-school’s outdoor track-and-field teams followed a successful season with the 18th Moorestown Invitational on April 11.
And while four of the program’s athletes made it to the 2026 New Balance Nationals Indoor, its coaches have always emphasized that schoolwork should be a top priority.
“The student piece comes first, always,” said Erin Todd, head coach for girls spring track and cross county and boys and girls winter track. “That’s also the classroom teacher saying that as well.”
Todd is also a science teacher who is now in her fifth season with cross country and her third with track. Years ago, budget cuts eliminated Moorestown High’s winter track-and-field program, but a community effort helped get it reinstated.
“Although we’re a team and there is potentially a team title, this is a very individualized sport,” Todd explained, “so to pick one (thing to look forward to) is hard to say, just because there’s so many different kids …
“We’re just excited to see what they do and where their growth is, and what they feel has been a success for them.”
Todd was a class advisor for more than 20 years before she stepped down in 2021. But she still wanted to be involved with her students outside the classroom, and given her experience running track, she soon slid into the position as head coach for the teams.
What she admires about both track and field and cross country is how inclusive the programs are.
“It doesn’t matter if you are the fastest or the best …” she noted. “There’s a place for everyone to find something that they’re good at, between jumping, throwing, long distance, sprints and hurdles, it’s just a place that kids of all ability levels can find a home.”
With the reinstatement of winter track and field came success for its athletes, according to Todd. Students in the program have gone on to compete in high-stakes competitions post-season that include the Meet of Champions and Nationals. But the experience is meant to be enjoyable.
A post-season banquet for track and cross country, Todd said, highlights each team’s success no matter what personal record each participants sets.
“Even if you’re talking 100th of a second, it’s still growth,” she pointed out. “It’s still achievement, it’s still improvement, and at the end of the season, every child, at least in something, has reached some sort of milestone or some sort of growth, depending on what season we’re in.
“At the time that you get them to their senior year, you see where they are … not just as athletes but as people, as little humans, getting ready to jump out into the next stage of life.
“That’s a pretty awesome experience and a pretty awesome responsibility.”
