I have to admit to being spoiled by our success in both cross country and track. Even though the '99 season didn't bring a lot of team success we still had two girls qualify and represent us at the state meet. This was a step back after the entire girl's team qualifying the previous 9 years and 2 previous boy's teams qualifying as well as two individual boy's state medalists, but it was still something to hang our hat on. There were a lot of teams that didn't have any state qualifiers and we hoped to use that fact to motivate others to come out while we tried to rebuild.
Unfortunately that didn't happen. For the first time since 1987 my first year coaching cross country at Sierra we didn't schedule a scrimmage. We didn't have enough kids available to make it worthwhile for another team much less the expense of traveling to Parker. The decision proved to be the right one when we only had 2 boys run in our first meet and the second of them would have been 3rd on our girls team. We did have 7 runners finish for the girls but after our first two, Tara and Sara, there was a dramatic drop off only one other had run the previous year. The girls were 8th out of 8 scoring teams.
Usually with a strong 1-2 punch at the top you could find at least three more runners to bring the team into the respectable category in most meets. For some reason we never found that this season. By the third meet we did get a freshman girl out who showed a great deal of potential. Unfortunately, Toni would become another one year runner. Even though I was also her coach in swimming she chose to do soccer instead of track in the spring because that's what her friends played and then she didn't come back to cross country her sophomore year or swimming after her sophomore year. Even more frustrating was the fact that she was still #17 on the all-time freshman list in 2004. Of course our 1-2 punch was once again Tara and Sara but after the first meet the order changed and never changed again until Sara got injured before the League meet. They were always finishing close together but Sara always came out on top. While Tara was one of the top cross country runners I coached while at Sierra and she went on to run at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy it never seemed to be her passion. She was a middle distance runner at heart but that heart contributed to her 4-year success as a cross country runner in high school and beyond. Sara on the other hand also swam but did soccer in the spring and had a drive to succeed in cross-country. If you remember in an earlier post I called her the most improved runner I coached at Sierra. This comparison of their progress including their place on the all time class lists when I left Sierra provides a clear picture of what I'm talking about.
Tara - 9th - 1st 21:35 - 10th - 6th 21:14 - 11th - 6th 21:08 - 12th - 15th 22:13
Sara - 9th - not in top 25 - 27:30 - 10th - 9th 21:39 - 11th - 12th 22:01 (injured) - 12th - 7th 21:23
After the 3rd meet which was the Cheyenne Mountain Invitation where we still had only 4 boys finish and one of our seniors who was a 3-year letter winner would drop out of what would turn out to be her last race because of health issues, I wrote the following in the newsletter:
"This is the point in the season where I have to inform you that I am not the Wizard of Oz. I can't help you find a heart. You have to look inside yourself and see what's missing and then you have to find it. The majority of you are not racing, you are simply running at best. You have to get out of your Comfort Zone and realize that there is pain and discomfort involved in being a successful cross-country runner. And to be willing to run through and fight through the pain and discomfort, you have to have heart. You have to want it at least as bad, if not worse, than your competitors. So far this season, that has obviously not been the case".
I also did something I had not done in the past after this meet, I wrote a letter specifically to Tara and Sara about what it would take for them to qualify for state as individuals. The likelihood of our team even beating another scoring team in our region let alone qualifying for state was slim and none. I provided them with everything that I had from every team in our region and then wrote the following:
"What you two had better start focusing closely on is what it is going to take to qualify as individuals. Remember that you must be in the top 7 individuals from non-qualifying teams. I'm giving you all the information that Coach Payton has collected from the first three meets. You need to take a close look at it and start figuring out what you need top do. The answer is simple, get more competitive and do it soon or you will be staying home this year. Just "running" together every meet and not "racing" the field is going to cost one or both of you a trip to state. It's up to you to decide how bad you want to go back to state this year. There is nothing Coach Payton or I can do to get you there. We will train you properly and we will see that you have all the information that we can provide. We cannot run the race that you both need to be running".
As predicted, the only teams we beat were nonscoring teams. Had Sara not been trying to come back from an injury at region we would have beaten one team that only beat us by 5 points. Unfortunately her injury time off prevented her from running to her potential and she was actually our 3rd runner. Tara did qualify for the 4th year in a row by being one of the 7 runners from nonscoring teams.
The next meet was in Denver at the Liberty Bell Invitational and that is when we had a scoring boy's team for the first time. The good news is that we would have enough to have a scoring team the rest of the season except at the league meet. 10 of the 12 runners who competed at Liberty Bell had season bests.
 |
| Tara - 4 year State Qualifier |
For her English class Tara had an assignment to write a sample college essay using the following prompt, "Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence".
"It's hot and the sun is beating down on my head. It hurts all over, my mouth is dry and I can't breathe. 'Dangit, another hill!' 'Tara! Go catch those girls! Get the ones in front of you! If you're going to do it, then you have to go now!' he shouts from the side of the path.
I hear those very same words every time I run. You would think I'd be sick of them, but I know they are said with hidden meaning. Each and every time I run past my coach, he is always shouting words of encouragement. His voice gives me focus; my breathing, out of control, is now steady. His demands distract me from the cramps in my stomach and the pain in my legs. I lengthen my stride and give it everything I've got.
Droplets of sweat fall from my face with every step I take. I keep telling myself over and over again, just keep going, not only for me but for my coach, too. As I com,e to the finish of the race, I see him, my coach. How proud he stands his arms across his chest, his eyes, hidden by his sunglasses. He knows exactly what I have left to give and asks for it.
He yells his last words of advice as I run by 'pick it up, Tara!' I listen to these final words and kick it in, one more time. I dig down and give it everything I have left. The race ends and all my energy is sapped. My knees buckle, and I fall to the ground. Even though I feel as if my heart is about to stop beating, and my lungs are going to cave in with every breath, I know I did well, and my coach will praise me.
Mr. Dana Anstey, my coach, knows my limits and pushes me to them. He is not afraid to challenge me each and every time I run. He accepts no excuses and he doesn't back down to anyone. Coach Anstey may push me until I'm hurting all over, mentally and physically, but I have more respect for him than anyone else in the world. Ever since I was a freshman, he has always been there for the good, the bad, and the ugly times. He has seen the best and the worst of my efforts. Yet, not for one second, has he ever given up on me. After four years, somehow I know he will always be there, and that's the one thing that I treasure most.
A few meets ago, I was upset after my race, and he knew it too. He told me something I will never forget. He said, 'You are like one of my own.' These words filled my heart with pride and happiness. I will never in my lifetime forget him or those words! Thank you coach, for everything."
For the '01 - '02 swimming season there was another significant change in my role. After having her first child, Laura decided that she no longer wanted to coach so I decided to bite the bullet and just apply for the head coaching position. I'm going to attach a copy of the questions and answers I had to do in order to apply for the position because I think they show a trend that the district was showing in regards to hiring practices. Remember, this was just one coaching position that nobody else wanted. It carried over in all areas of hiring. So, here it is in it's entirety.
HEAD COACH GIRL'S SWIMMING
2000 - 2001
1. Why are you interested in this position?
Because the girls deserve to have some continuity in the program. The juniors and seniors will be having their 3rd head coach. The first 8 years that the school was open we had the same head coach. This will be the 4th head coach since. There are too many programs in this school that have no continuity. I think we owe it to our students to provide that continuity whenever and wherever possible.
And another reason, just as important, and maybe more so, is that no one else is interested in the position.
In case no one is paying attention, here are a couple of tidbits. Sierra boys swimmers had to swim at Harrison last year because no one wanted to coach the boy's swimming program here. Sierra's tennis players had to play at Harrison this past season because nobody wanted to coach it here at Sierra. This was in spite of the fact that the majority of the players on the combined tennis team were Sierra athletes. The majority of the football coaches at Sierra come from out of the building. The entire softball staff is out of building. The gymnastics coach is out of building. These coaches are not here to provide the daily support that our student-athletes need and deserve.
If I don't take the position, who will?
2. What is your experience relative to the position?
I have been a coach for 25 years. I have coached at Sierra High School for 16 years. I have coached 48 teams at Sierra, the majority of them girl's teams. I have had experience coaching very successful teams and in swimming, teams that have not been successful in the traditional sense. (Winning and losing). I have been the assistant girl's swimming coach at Sierra for the past five years. I would be happy to create a resume of my experience and successes if necessary.
3. Sierra has a diverse student population. What is your experience working with diverse populations?
As I already stated, I've worked at Sierra as a coach for 16 years, the past 14 as a teacher in the building. Prior to that I coached and taught in Lovington, New Mexico a school with a high Hispanic population and a significant African American population. I did my student teaching and also coached in Ruidoso, New Mexico where there is a high percentage of Native Americans in the school. I grew up in Southern California, which is very diverse. While attending college I worked for the Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Department as a playground director and coach.
4. What do you bring to this position that someone else may not?
That's simple. Loyalty. Loyalty to the community. Loyalty to the school. But most important, Loyalty to the parents and student-athletes that I will be working with. A characteristic that is obviously missing at several levels in this district. Starting with Human Resources.
5. Tell us a little about your philosophy.
I believe that every student should have an opportunity to participate in programs that will help them grow in all areas. Not every student-athlete will be a top competitor. As a matter of fact, in a program where there are only so many events and some of them are highly technical, not every athlete will get a chance to compete. But, every athlete will get the opportunity to work and show improvement and every athlete will be treated as a valued member of the program.
I believe that all of our athletes need to be students first. In the past three years, I have coached 6 teams that achieved Academic All State Team honors. I emphasize the importance of success in the classroom first.
I believe that our student-athletes should try to be positive role models for our other students and their behavior in the classrooms and halls should be exemplary.
Those are just the highlights. I have a written philosophy that I developed over 20 years ago that I can find and provide if necessary, it hasn't changed.
6. Why should we offer you this position?
For the same reasons that I said I was interested. And probably the main reason is that nobody else wants it. People in this district better get a clue. People don't want to work here and it's this type of jumping through hoops that creates that attitude.
7. Is there anything else you would like us to know?
You are losing coaches faster than you can replace them. Making imaginary hoops for coaches who are willing to work here, to jump through, isn't going to make the situation any better. Human Resources better realize that the Human in the name means something and start treating people who work here with the respect they deserve.
Requiring me to do a dog and pony show to satisfy some need that someone in Human Resources has to justify their job is not the type of action that is going to keep coaches in this district. Get your head out of the process long enough to look around and see what is happening to programs district wide. Nobody wants to coach here. Don't alienate the few of us who do.
I was fortunate enough to hire Gayle Hinrichs as my assistant because she was in the building and knew the girls. She was one of the few people always willing to jump in and learn. Despite our lack of experience actually coaching swim technique we had a reasonably successful season by Sierra standards. We went 2-7-1 for the season and Tara became the first swimmer female or male in school history to qualify for the state meet. The only way to qualify for the state meet in swimming was by meeting the time standards. Tara did it several times that, her senior year, in the 50 freestyle. (Remember what I said earlier about her being a sprinter at heart?)
"Ladies congratulations on a good performance at the League meet. This was by far our best performance since we came into the Metro League. As those of you who competed know, the competition is incredible at this meet. Many of the girls who you swam against will go on and win medals at the state championship meet on Thursday and Friday.
Speaking of the state meet, good luck to Tara who will be the first person to ever represent Sierra at the state swimming meet. Also, congratulations to Tara on being the first individual to make it into the consolation finals at the Metro League meet. She placed 5th in the 50 freestyle and tied for 2nd in the 100 freestyle. Her performance and that of our three relays made it possible for you to finish 11th out of 15 teams. Great job by all of you."
After finishing 2nd in the state for three years in a row we were entering the 2001 season with some unanswered questions. One of the biggest questions was how much was Leslie going to give us this year? Another big question was what was our throw team going to look like after several years of having almost guaranteed points in both throwing events. Another area where we had some consistent and steady success was in our distance program. With our down years in cross country how would that impact the track team? Probably the biggest question was who would and who wouldn't be back from last year; this of course was a question that we had to ask every year.
All of the questions were quickly answered. Margaret a sophomore who was our best returning thrower had moved. Selethia, a hurdler who showed real promise particularly in the 300 hurdles had moved. As far as the distance question, While she was still a top cross country runner, Tara had become more versatile the previous year and was a 300 hurdler as well as 200 and 400 relay runner whenever we needed an alternate to fill in. Our other two top cross country runners were soccer players. And Veronica, a junior who had shown promise the past two years decided to not run. While losing Selethia hurt our hurdle development, ironically the previous year Tara had set our junior class record for the 300 hurdles. Unfortunately she fell over the last hurdle at region and crawled across in 4th just missing out on a state qualifying spot. Her senior year she was still willing to run them but she never attacked them the same way again.
And finally we got our answer from Leslie after the first meet. She only wanted to be a jumper this year and because she had already had such tremendous success at the events we were willing to let her focus on jumping as long as she worked out with the rest of the team and did the same workouts as everyone else. In our first meet a triangle Tuesday, League meet she won the long jump by over a foot but over 3 feet under her best and she won the triple jump by over 4 feet with the 3rd best jump by a senior in school history. The next day she informed us that her heart wasn't in it and she quit.
That first meet also gave an indication that it was going to be a tough season. We scored 0 points in the distance events and only one girl placed in the throws with very short throws. We did however look good in the sprints with senior Joelise leading the way, sophomore Taryn having a good meet and a nice core of freshmen sprinters, Precious, Cassey, and Stephanie to go with sophomores Taryn and Shamica and senior Joelise. Sprints, relays and jumps, even without Leslie, were going to have to be the core of our program. We also had a first year sophomore who showed good potential as a 300 hurdler.
We lost that first meet to 5A Coronado 96 -71, Pine Creek was 3rd with 27 points. That may not seem like a big deal to someone not familiar with the history of our program but to those of us who knew and lived that history it was something we were not used to. My first year as head coach at Sierra we were 3-1 in 3, 4, and 5 team midweek meets; that was in 1988. After that we were 32-0 until this loss; undefeated for 12 years.
Our next meet, the Icicle Relays, was canceled by weather and we then won a triangle with Woodland Park and Mesa Ridge before competing at our first invitational of the year. We were 7th of 14 teams despite some less than stellar performances from people that we could normally count on. For example Joelise was 7th in the 100, 3rd in the long jump, jumping a foot less than she had on Tuesday and anchored the 4 x 100 relay that was disqualified. She then scratched from the open 200. To say that we had to scramble our relays for various reasons would be an understatement. I had a parent challenge me about my decision to run the relays the way that I did. I explained why we did what we did and that it was not always about using the "best" kids on relays if you needed them in individual events and could still be competitive in the relays with different people. We ran a season best in the medley with her daughter running the 400 leg and we ran a season best in the 4 x 200 with her daughter running a leg. She didn't run on the 4 x 100 that was disqualified because she was entered in the next event, the open 400 where she ran 10 seconds slower than her leg on the medley. This is how I addressed the issue with the team in the newsletter.
RELAYS
"I had a parent ask some very reasonable questions about relays on Saturday. She wanted to know why I "change the relays every meet". Let me go over a few things with you so that you understand how I feel about the relays and why I have done relays the way that I have for 25 years and will continue to do them.
1. First it's important that you understand that the relays have always and will always belong to the coach. Who runs them, when they run them and why they run them will always be determined by the coach and no one else. No one else knows about injuries, illness, attitudes, etc.
2. Here's something no one ever thinks about. A relay is worth only 10 points IF you win it. The four people running that relay could potentially earn 40 points in individual events IF they each won one. All they have to do is each finish 6th in an individual event and they would score 12 points. It's not hard to figure out the math and what is best for the TEAM.
3. I want the relays to be the best that they can be, but I want the TEAM to be the best it can first.
4. Right now we are experimenting. That's why we change a lot. Not only that, look around you, how many people have been unable to run what they are supposed to already this season because of illness, injury, or other reasons?"
That newsletter went home on April 9th. I soon received the following letter from said parent and it was written the night the newsletter went home.
April 09, 2001
Dear Coach Anstey,
My name is -------- and I am the mother of -------, first let me apologize if I have spell your name incorrectly. As I read your "Power Letter" to your athletes and as I understand it you took my question a little personally. If I offended you, that was not my intentions. But as a track athlete and state representative in Track and Field in my day myself, I think I know a little something about the sport. I know that in a relay the two most important things that will contribute to a win is speed and a correct handoff. I know that your relay teams should know one another like a book, i.e. one person should know how fast the passer of the baton is coming in. If you have four different people running in every race they will never get it right. That can be very frustrating for young athletes especially girls. I too very much know about injuries having incurred some myself, so that is why you have an alternate runner on relays. Your girls have the speed you just have to know how to use them and where to put them.
I resent the fact that you have expressed that I or any parent that does not have "25 years" of what ever it is that would make us qualified to ask a simple question or know anything about the sport. Your right it is your relay and you do it the way you want to, but I must say that is not very professional to express that especially to the girls the way that you did. I asked you and I feel you should have told me and only me. It was only a question, it wasn't intended to frustrate, humiliate, or embarrass you.
You should want your girls to settle for nothing less than 1st place, that is the goal in Track and Field especially in high school. I teach my daughter that she has the potential to be the best, yes 3rd is good, but 1st is better.
I am forwarding a copy of this letter to the Athletic Director and Principle (sic), and let there be no misunderstanding, I am not angry because of your words I am disappointed that someone with 25 years of experience would let a simple question cloud your judgement and act in such a way."
You'll have to keep reading to see how we did with our relays the rest of the season but I had a much bigger problem to deal with than a parent who thought that she was a coach. Joelise decided that she wanted to quit because she just didn't want to do it anymore. This is a girl who had already been to state in 12 events and placed in 11 of the 12. She had won multiple regional championships and countless invitationals. On April 8th I wrote the following and gave it to her.
"What you will give up by quitting now:
1. 4 year letter winner
2. 4 year state qualifier
3. Winningest state medalist in school history
4. Potential 3-time regional long jump champion
5. Finishing what you started
6. You will always be part of Sierra's Track and Field Family
7. You will almost be assured a spot on the 2nd All Decade team
8. When Sierra starts a Sports Hall of Fame, you will probably be one of the first put in if I'm around.
What you will gain by quitting now:
1. You won't finish what you started.
2. You'll give up on yourself and your teammates
3. You'll walk out on the Sierra Girl's Track Family
4. What kind of example will you set for your brother and sister?
5. You won't accomplish any of the things that I listed above.
6. You will always be "just another quitter"
There are only 6 more weeks left in your entire high school career. You can put up with anything for 6 weeks."
Fortunately for her and the team she didn't quit but it was obvious that outside issues were causing her a lot of stress that had nothing to do with track. Our next meet was a triangle and she only did two events, anchored the 4 x 100 and long jumped. The irony in the long jump is that it was the first of only two times that Tara would try it and she won with a jump of 13'9". Joelise was 2nd with 13'1"; almost 5 feet short of her best. We then ran the Glenn Peterson Invitational and finished 7th of 18 with Joelise again not competing. Our freshmen and sophomore sprinters were performing consistently. Cassey won the 100, Precious was 4th in the 200 and they teamed with sophomores Taryn and Shamica for 3rd and 2nd in the sprint relays. The medley was 6th with 2 freshmen and 2 sophomores.
In our next meet we hit a new low. Joelise didn't compete, Cassey scratched after making the finals in the 100 with a sore leg, Shamica didn't finish the meet because of an injury and Taryn didn't compete so even our cadre of freshmen - sophomore sprinters was almost nonexistent. We finished 15th of 17 teams in the combined 4A - 5A League Championship with 16 points. In the newsletter I wrote the following:
"Wow! Now I know how the other half feels. Whew! Now I know how people have felt when they competed against Sierra the previous 16 years. We haven't been in this position before and I hope those of you who are freshmen, sophomores and juniors don't want it to be this way again. 16th out of 18 teams is something that we've never experienced before and hopefully will never experience again. But you know the surprising thing? I'm not disappointed because I honestly believe those of you who competed did the best you could and you are going to continue to get better between now and Regionals."
"Look at the scores of teams in our Region, they are the only scores that matter. Now put Cassey, Taryn and Shamica in the meet full strength and add in the points they would have earned and it doesn't look nearly as bad. Remember what I said above, I still believe that you are going to surprise some people, continue to improve, do well at Regionals and get some people to State. You just have to believe in what you want to accomplish and work towards your goals."
Notice that I didn't mention Joelise in that newsletter; she was still questionable at the time and I wanted the kids looking ahead with the idea that she probably wasn't going to be there to help with the relays or anything else. We only had two more invitationals left before region and state. If there wasn't some positive change in those last two meets and region we wouldn't have to worry about state.
So we've had kids move, kids quit, parents complain, what am I missing to complete the toughest season I've ever coached to this point? I know, how about a first year coach that couldn't get along with the girls! Here is a copy of the letter I wrote her while we were still in preseason conditioning.
"Coach;
Take this for what it is, simply constructive criticism and coaching education. I want you to step back and think about what our role as coaches is and particularly your role as an assistant who is new to the program.
My philosophy is simple. I want to have as many student-athletes as possible participate and stay with the program. I want them to have a positive experience. I want to see them improve throughout their time in the program. And I want them to have fun. And believe me I know we all have more fun when we win and that becomes our ultimate goal.
We can't do any of these things if coaches and athletes can't get along. I'm sure the incident yesterday didn't seem to be that big of a deal to you but to some of the kids who came and talked to me it was. It was pointed out by one of our athletes that there hasn't been a day yet that, "she hasn't yelled at us about something". I don't necessarily agree with that obviously but I do think you need to take a look at your approach with the girls.
Our role as coaches is 4 fold as far as I'm concerned. 1. Get as many kids out as possible and keep them out. 2. Be a cheerleader. Preseason is no fun for anyone. But it is less fun for a bunch of kids who are out of shape. It is no fun being out in the cold and running three miles when you think you're a sprinter, hurdler or jumper. And it is less fun when someone is criticizing. I'm not saying we can't criticize or correct or discipline if necessary. The question becomes, when is it necessary and how should it be done? 3. We are out there to teach. And 4. We are there to develop relationships, coach/athlete relationships with our kids. Until we have those relationships, criticism falls on angry or at best deaf ears. You need to be working on getting to know the kids now and leave the correcting to me unless it's a serious issue. Loafing on a cool down which is simply going through the motions at the end of practice isn't worthy of the type of incident we had yesterday.
I think you're going to be a positive addition to our coaching staff but, get to know the girls and let them get to know you before they see you as, "someone who yells at us all the time" and "she doesn't even know us".As I've said since day one of the season, we're going to keep things "low key" for now. Coaches and athletes arguing is not low key. I just got rid of a coach that made me play "good cop" to his "bad cop" for two seasons. I'm not going to have a season like that.
I will always support you when there is a coach/athlete problem. I don't want to be put in a position of having to support you when I think the athlete is right and yesterday I felt the athletes were right.
The reason I'm sending this in email instead of simply talking to you about it is because I've had about 20 hours to think about it and I didn't want to leave anything out.
Like I said, I know you will be an asset to our staff and I look forward to working with you throughout the season. The track isn't going to become a battle ground. These kids get beat up around here all day as it is. I want them to see track practice as a place where they want to be.
I hope you don't find this offensive. I guess if you do, you can let me know and we'll discuss it further.
With two meets to go before region we did have two state qualifiers. Becky our pole vaulter had qualified in addition to Joelise in the long jump. Our next meet was the Fountain Fort Carson Invitational where we finished 8th of 16. We came out of the meet with some confidence that we certainly didn't have after our performance at league.
"Ladies I can honestly say that yesterday's meet is the first one this year where the coaches left feeling like we had been at a track meet where it felt like we were coaching the Sierra girl's track team. You competed hard, you supported one another, and for once you acted like you really enjoyed being part of the program. It was nice having someone make the finals in every running event that had prelims. We just missed having finalists in a couple of field events."
It was starting to look like a good thing that Joelise had pre-qualified in the long jump because she only went 14'9" and failed to even make the finals. She did anchor the 4 x 100 to a season best and state qualifying victory. So now we had one relay qualified for the state meet.
At our next meet, Cheyenne Mountain we again improved, finishing 5th of 13 and only 1 point out of 4th. Joelise got it back together winning the long jump with a 17'4 1/2 state qualifying performance. She also ran on both sprint relays although neither of them were anywhere near our best.
All season I had been using passages from a book by Michael Johnson, Slaying the Dragon, to supplement my newsletters. After the Cheyenne Mountain meet I wrote this in the newsletter:
"Coincidentally the next section of Johnson's book had to do with pressure. For the first time in 17 years, you're going into the regional meet with no pressure on you. No one expects you to do well, so if you go and perform to your potential, you will surprise a lot of people. The last two meets have been outstanding, much more like the Sierra Lady's Track program is used to. Keep up the momentum through Regionals and State. Good luck this weekend, do your best, have fun, and represent the Sierra Lady's track tradition to the best of your ability."
After the Regional Championship meet I wrote:
"How appropriate that the last section of Michael Johnson's book, Slaying the Dragon, is about performance. You certainly performed at the regional meet. With very few exceptions, you stepped up and performed to the best of your ability for that time and place. I told you on Friday about the importance of every point and almost without exception you competed to earn every point. It's because of that type of effort that we finished 4th in the 10 team region after being written off for dead only a few weeks ago.
Congratulations ladies; all of the coaches are very proud of the way that you stepped up and performed on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It was an outstanding total team effort! Something that has been missing for the majority of the season."
Tara unfortunately didn't qualify for state for the first time in 8 seasons of track and cross country but she did run on the 7th place 4 x 800, the only 2 points we got from distance events, and the 5th place 4 x 400 relay team that ran a season best. Senior Ashley, a hard working four year letter winner placed in the 100 hurdles at region for the 3rd year in a row. Joelise qualified to state for the 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th times by qualifying in the long jump and the 200 as well as anchoring the state qualifying 4 x 100 and 4 x 200. Freshman Stephanie was runner up and set a freshman record in the 400 and anchored the state qualifying medley relay. And sophomore Taryn qualified in the triple jump.
Those relays that were being questioned all season? We won region and qualified for state in all three sprint relays, the 4 x 100 set a new school record and the medley ran the 8th fastest time in school history. Did I feel vindicated? No because I knew that what we were doing worked if it just came together at the right time. And the early question that I said we had about the throws? We didn't score a point in either event.
This was the first time in my career as a head coach that we had not finished 1st or 2nd at the regional meet but I was just as proud of what we overcame for the fourth place finish that we did get as any team I had coached. It had been a brutal season for every reason imaginable and we qualified for state in 8 of 19 events.
We went to state and finished a very respectable 12th place. Joelise placed in all four events so in her career she qualified for 16 and placed in 15 of the 16. She became the state champion in the long jump and placed for the 4th year in the 200. Our relays? We were state champions in the 4 x 100 and ran a new school record in the prelims; we were 3rd in the 4 x 200 and we were just out of the medals finishing 10th in the medley.
It was a stressful year to say the least!
No comments:
Post a Comment