For the first week of track practice, everyone got onto the bus and went to the Memorial Baptist Church due to the weather being undesirable. The church allowed the New Haven Track team to practice in its indoor gym. Starting Friday, March 6th, track practice moved outdoors
Many people are excited for this year of track. The athletes are looking to do the best they can to get better personal records and are willing to try their best. Junior Keven McDowell is one of those athletes and said, “I’m excited for the relay teams most of all.” He reports, “It’s where you can help out your team in the best way possible, and it’s just tons of fun.”
The first week of track is used to create good form and to condition. There are three separate sections in the beginning of practice: core, skips, and drills. Core is general ab and arm exercises: pushups, situps, bicycle crunches, and planks. After core, skips are done to emphasize correct running form with legs and arms. Drills are done next to add speed and actual running while still maintaining correct form.
After the warm-ups, athletes go into different groups based on the events they plan to compete in: jumpers go with Mr. Hagedorn; throwers go with Mr. Hoener; and runners go with Mr. Tucker and Mr. Peirick. Jumpers go through jumping drills involving jumping on or over boxes; throwers throw shotput and discus while working on correct technique; and runners are split into sprinters and long distance runners. Sprinters usually do sprinting drills, and long distance runners go on runs through town. Nathan Allgaier, a thrower, explained “Yeah, when we throw, normally we throw shotput or discus and focus on our form, but I can always see improvement after practicing for so long.”
Currently, members are getting ready for the first practice meet on March 24th at St. Clair.
- by Robbie Cichon