Who are The Press Girls Track and Field Athlete, Coach and Team of the Year? (2024)

In just two school years, Sophia Curtis became one of the most accomplished athletes in Ocean City High School history.

Curtis, who transferred to Ocean City as a junior, won the Cape May County and South Jersey and state Group III triple jump championships this past spring. She also won the Cape May County and South Jersey Group III 400-meter hurdles titles and the Cape May long jump championship.

Curtis is The Press Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

“Going into (the transfer), I was definitely intimidated,” Curtis said. “I knew Ocean City was good as a track (program). Transferring over, going out of my comfort zone, it was a little scary at first. But the team was so welcoming. I’ve grown so much not only as an athlete but as a person there.”

A four-time All-American, Curtis finished her outdoor career with four state titles, four South Jersey championships and a Meet of Champions victory. Her time of 59.8 in the 400 hurdles is a Cape-Atlantic League record.

Her victory in the triple jump at last year’s Meet of Champions joins her with Brittany Sedberry (3,200 run in 2004), Megan Hartman (1,600 run in 1994) and Lauren McHale (800 run in 1998) as the only Ocean City girls to win individual outdoor MOC titles.

Curtis grew up in Swedesboro and attended Padua Academy in Wilmington, Delaware, as a freshman and sophom*ore. She transferred to Ocean City as a junior after her family decided to move from Swedesboro to their summer home in the resort.

Ocean City is a school where track and field is important, and the boys and girls teams have a tradition of success.

Ocean City coach Tim Cook marveled at Curtis’ consistency and competitiveness.

“She was always at such a high level when she performed,” he said. “She brought her best day in and day out. She loved to compete more than anybody out there.”

Curtis capped her season when she finished sixth in the triple jump at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor Championships in Philadelphia to earn All-American status. High school athletes earn All-American honors by finishing among the top six at national meets. Curtis skipped this year’s MOC to focus on the New Balance meet, which was held a day later.

“It means the world,” Curtis said of being an All-American. “It just shows how much hard work and dedication I’ve put in over the years.”

Another highlight was breaking the one-minute barrier and setting a CAL record in the 400 hurdles.

“It definitely was a goal for me,” she said. “It definitely gives me so much confidence going to college, seeing what I can do.”

Her top events are an unusual combination. There aren’t many triple jumpers who run the 400 hurdles and vice versa. Curtis relishes the technical aspects of both events. Curtis tried a variety of events as a freshman in Delaware, and she said both the triple jump and hurdles just “clicked” with her.

“I feel like there’s so much to learn and break down,” she said. “There’s so much to perfect in every phase of the triple jump. In every phase, fixing one thing can improve your jump by so much. Same thing with the hurdles. One less step in between the hurdles can improve the race so much.”

Curtis will continue her track career at Virginia Tech.

“I’m really excited to see what college holds for me,” she said. “I feel like I have so much more to learn.”

TEAM AND COACH OF THE YEAR

Ocean City finished 9-0 in dual meets, won the Cape May County championship, finished third in South Jersey Group III and fourth in state Group III.

The Red Raiders are The Press Team of the Year, and Tim Cook is The Press Coach of the Year.

In addition to Curtis’ achievements, Ocean City featured distance runner Maeve Smith, who won the South Jersey Group III 1,600 and 3,200 runs.

The quartet of Smith, Chloe Care, Frankie Ritzel and Carly Godfrey won the state and South Jersey Group III 4x800 relay titles and finished second at the Meet of Champions.

The past three seasons, Ocean City finished 8-1 with its only dual meet loss coming to Mainland Regional. This year, the Red Raiders opened their season with a 75-64 win over Mainland.

“The key to success this year was the commitment and versatility of the girls,” said Cook, who has a record of 44-7 in six seasons. “They were locked in from day one and were willing to do whatever it took to get the job done. They took pride in competing for each other, and it translated to a truly memorable season.”