Here are three videos that outline what we are trying to teach. They are slightly different than the way I teach this event, but can give you an idea what we are looking for. Please review.
Here are some of the best ever from the United States in these four events. While I do not expect any of you to do what they have done, they all started out just like you.
Long Jump - Jackie Joyner Kersee the World's best ever Athlete
Watch each video to conclusion, there are a lot of clues you can catch.
Michelle Carter - National Record holder in the Shot put
Coach Morrissey shall eventually teach you this technique...take time to learn
Vashti Cunningham Bronze Medalist in the Olympic High Jump clears 2 meters
That is over six feet. Right now you are learning what to do on the ground, this also takes time to learn.
Gail Devers in the 100 meter hurdles - Wins World title, but also won Olympic 100 meter dash.
Hurdling is a Sprint first! Coach Gorman will help get you there!
Thus far I have been impressed with this team's character and hope it continues and even improves.
The thing about this sport is that MOST of our athletes do not know anything about what we do until they set foot on the track for the first time. Many don't know who's who in the sport.
While everyone can relate to Tom Brady (who really is not fast), not many of us know who Allyson Felix is (the most decorated American in the Olympics for Track and Field).
I have loaded two videos that I would like for you all to see.
The first is the 4 by 100 meter world record set in 2012 by the United States relay team. The names of the athletes are highlighted as well as some information about relays (the good, the bad and the ugly).
The second is a 4 by 400 relay race that resulted in us winning the 2013 Western Mass Championship. This video can be found on our Ladyspartan web site as well.
I encourage you all to view these videos for inspiration, but also to understand a small part of what this sport is about, and how much real fun it is.
Enjoy!
(Click "watch on youtube)
And our own team of Freshman Morgan Voight, Freshman Abby Laughlin, Freshman Danielle Nault,and Junior Gabby Weithofer in 2013 winning our third straight Western Mass Indoor title.
Girls Indoor Track and Field is excited about getting going, but the process initially shall be slow. Because of covid, we are working a bit differently than we have in the past. Please be patient. Administration wishes that we follow the protocols suggested by both the Health Department as well as the School Commitee.
Our first priority is your safety.
To answer a few of your questions that we have anticipated:
We are meeting Monday at 3:00PM in the small gym (which also doubles as the cafeteria). Take a chair and socially distance. I shall go over the team rules and reiterate the covid policies for those that have yet to do a sport inside this year.
For those of you that have to stay around after school before practice, the large cafeteria is available for you up to 2:45 to study or be tutored. For those of you leaving and coming in, please enter on the side of the building closest the tennis courts, When we leave, it shall be through the doors leaving the large gym.
Bring: your workout clothes, a towel, lots of water, a snack, a gym bag and anything else you think you might need, Also bring a pen in order to fill out any forms I might have for you. There are no locker assignments in the school at this time. DO NOT FORGET YOUR MASK!
Also, always bring a positive attitude.That is an important component to any type of success!
For most of you this is new. Ask questions after I address the team. I have found that the only bad questions are the ones not asked. Chances are someone else is thinking the same thing, or even better, are NOT, then realize your question is of great importance!
Our goal this year is (as usual) to do our best and have fun on the process. We have a new team and a lot of area to cover.
Today is Monday, January 18. If all goes as planned, on Monday, March 1, Indoor Track and Field will happen. That is SIX WEEKS from now.
I would prefer that those of you that are interested in participating have some plan to start training between now and then ( I am hoping that you all have done something already).
Coach Gorman offered a free program to many of you.
Coach Besser has offered to run on weekends with you.
Coach Morrissey is willing to offer advice to you.
I have listed workouts on the Ladyspartan web site.
What have YOU done to get prepared?
I know school starts up again on Tuesday. My preference is that we do not go into a season unprepared.
E-Mail me what YOU want to do: youralarmguy@aol.com I shall share with our other coaches.
ALSO: Confirm if you are doing Indoor. I need to set up a mailing list!
I am afraid though that Santa Claus shall not be joining any of us this Christmas Eve. As you all know I don't celebrate Christmas, and now, sadly...neither shall any of you.
I am holding him hostage in carbonite.
I heard help is on the way, but they won't make it in time...
There shall be a ZOOM meeting tonight involving coaches information for Indoor Training. This has nothing to do currently with the school.
Those that expressed an interest for training, can also be in on a zoom call Friday and have been notified.
This is an opportunity for veteran Track and Field people.
There may be some opportunity for folks to compete at Wheaton College over the Winter. I shall supply details, but please know it is going to be like AAU Basketball. You would have to enter meets on your own.
The school would have no say whether you compete or not, but your parents/guardians would sign you up.
Most of you shall or have received a letter from the school administration regarding Winter Sports.
Indoor Track and Field shall not be one of them that starts on January 4. We might get underway on February 22nd.
This could work out well for us as we are trying to rebuild our programs. We could attract some folks from Ski and Basketball to participate Indoors.
In the meantime, we have not been given any permission to train at the school (directly or indirectly). This does not mean you cannot join a health club and do some training with weights and get some cardio in.
I would hope all of you would take some initiative and do so.
After Thanksgiving, I shall be posting ideas for training and I would like Coach Morrissey to do the same, since he is our strength and conditioning coach. We shall coordinate.
I am also going to inventory everything we have and see if there are any items I can distribute to help you out. The important things are that you exercise social distancing, wash your hands, wear masks and continue to eat, sleep and balance your days with school.
I am thinking that the best gym deal out there is Planet Fitness. Keep in mind that gyms also have some restrictions and could continue to change depending upon the virus rules.
Now, here is what I am doing Tuesday. I am going to Wheaton College to view their new track.
Just like Cross Country, they are willing to host a meet or a few during December and January. I shall be inspecting the facility.
If anyone here is interested in racing there (if it is possible), you would do so independently and not as part of East Longmeadow High School. Your parents would have to sign you up and authorize your participation.
If coaches continue to put workouts on one of our sites and you follow them, you might race. A coach could be at the event in the capacity of an official. Needed equipment can be made available for you as done during the Summer (indoor shots, batons etc).
Let me know what you think. If I knew how to do a zoom call, I would host one, but I don't.
You all shall hear from me again soon either on Track Central or one of our communication outlets.
I just wanted to check back in on those of you that concluded your Fall seasons and are figuring out what might be in store for the Winter.
The answer to this is - I don't know. NOBODY really knows.
Covid seems to be expanding. This is due to people not socially distancing, nor wearing masks etc.
You all have to exercise good judgement, even if you join a health club or interact with other athletes.
Weather is also a factor. Keep in mind that with the sudden reduction in temperature, you can be susceptible to an illness. Drink plenty of fluids. Dress appropriately. Get lots of rest.
If you do any running on your own, be conservative. After your workouts, make certain that you eat and replenish yourself. Continue to wash your hands.
MY best guess is that we won't start (anything) until after the first of the year. If and when we do, there shall be restrictions all of us shall have to follow. The MIAA is meeting soon to discuss Winter sports.
My group has several representatives that will share information afterwards. Keep in mind that our school and conference shall offer further restrictions as they see fit. The Health Department shall include their positions as well as the Superintendent's Dept.
I assure you Mr. Paige and Mr. Magee really WANT to push sports, but are committed to safety first.
For Indoors, we do not have a facility as of now. It is likely we shall be moved to Fall II, which will have some conflict with Football. Indoor could lead right into Outdoor.
I suggest the Health Club approach unless it is determined we can utilize the school's facility, Throwers can consult with Coach Morrissey. For the rest of you, I would go through our regular drill routines often so you do not get stale.
I can post workouts like I did last Spring. Let me know if you want me to.
With holidays coming up, do your best to stay away from large groups.
For the end of relay month, I simply had to recognize the most famous of all the relay teams in school history.
In 2003, these four became the FIRST Western Mass team to win a State Championship, and the first team in school history (that I know of) to secure such a title.
We had gone to an MSTCA event for the very first time earlier that season and beat Marlboro in the 4 x 200 meter relay at the Girls Invitational. It was our first exposure to the big time.
So when we returned for the State Meet later in the year, we felt pretty good about ourselves in the Championship race...our main competition was Algonquin Regional.
We had the then NEW Western Mass 600 meter champion leading off (mostly because she had difficulty taking a baton, but also she would run leadoff and stay with the leaders!).
She handed off to the Western Mass 55 meter dash champion, who we knew would put or keep us in a terrific position.
From there our 3rd leg was a finalist in the 300 meters that was interfered with during that race with a "hacky sack". but still managed to place. She also held the freshman record in the Outdoor 200.
The anchor was money. 3rd place in the Western Mass. 55 dash as well as the current school record holder in the pole vault.
FOUR of the best athletes of ALLTIME!
They are currently immortalized in our trophy case.
Cortney Bowen (Energizer Bunny) Birtwell - Undefeated that year in all dual contests. State Champ on the Soccer team. Undefeated Indoors and Undefeated Outdoors. She and Christiana Racicot are the only people in East Longmeadow School history to go an ENTIRE year without losing! (1 tie in Soccer).
Kara (Storm) Budd - School record holder in the 55,100, 200, 300 hurdles, Indoor triple, and long. Only our own Paige Suse out jumped her in the high jump. 2 time athlete of the week, and her 4 x 1 relay team STILL has the school record.
New England runner up in the long jump and Champion in the triple. State champ in the 55 and 200 meter dash.
Currently a member of the ELHS Hall of Fame.
Beth Kineavy (Tugboat) Honecker - Part of that school record holder currently in the 4 x 100. Still holds the freshman records in the Indoor AND Outdoor 200. Two time State Champion in the 4 x 200. Western Mass. Champ her rookie year in the 4 x 100
Erika Graham Sharp (Teddy Graham) - Was a two time bronze medalist in the 55 dash. School record holder in the Pole Vault and at one time was part of the school long jump relay team that won Steele's and the McIntyre (New England) Relays. One of the best leaders I ever worked with and currently a member of the East Longmeadow Sports Hall of Fame.
I shall post the video of this at some point in the future. It was an amazing race to watch, as we led from start to finish.
So way back when, we had a relay team that simply dominated in the 4 x 200 at Western Mass.
They helped us earn our very first TEAM title. An unbelievable team that took 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the hurdles IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP MEET! Sorry Coach Gorman, we swept your participant that day in the finals. A picture tells 1000 words.
The funny thing is that I was TOLD by a grandparent that we could not win without her grandaughter ( who had missed several practices without excuses at the end of the season). WRONG!
Our plan was to build a house that day. For those of you that have been to our pre-championship meetings, you will understand that we "create" that daybefore and then "implement" the next.
So after some great performances, we decided to go on to the States and win that relay again, we were the #1 seed, and I knew there was no way anyone could beat us.
In a way, we ended up beating ourselves.
You are supposed to check in prior to the race. We FAILED to do that. WHAT? WHY?
It's a long story, but I am going to tell it anyway. Our Western Mass Champion Long Jumper was jumping in the State finals and was unable to make the call. Our Western Mass. Champion High Jumper was also our school record holder in the 600 dash. There was an error at the table and she was called down to the arena to secure the correct medal (better place!) in the 600.
So where were the other two? watching their team Captain in the finals of the jumps and missed the call.
We were OUT of the 4 x 200. Too late to be added. Now Coach Budd was EXTREMELY ANGRY!
(not that I get angry often, but the stakes were incredibly high, you see).
I went up to the table in the gym to see what I could do, and I was offered the opportunity to have these four run in the 4 x 400 relay, but it meant I had to bounce the four I had previously registered.
OH WELL!
I think these four were probably upset AND scared, but their "punishment" was that they were going to run. They were four of the best athletes we had ever worked with.
CANDACE "CANDO" KASPER
KAYLA "KILLER" RYBACKI
MAYA "FLOJO" RHINEHART
ALI "BOOMAYAY" McMAHON
They were running that day, regardless. My daughter was there and told me, that was the right thing to do. So they ran...possibly in fear, but WHATEVER! Time to make the donuts!
They took 8 seconds off the school record that day and qualified for the All-States!
In the 4 x 200, they would have made it, but could have been dominated by Boston area teams, instead they went there (ALL-STATES) in the 4 x 400 and then took another 4 seconds off their new school record, thus earning a spot at NEW ENGLANDS! Channel 22 came down and named them athletes of the Week.
Well earned, much deserved, and completely unexpected...by the way they brought the time down another two seconds. Still the fastest 4 x 400 Indoors OR Outdoors ever at our school!
ALL-STATE FINALS 2011
Lost again to Sprint City (Hingham), in two weeks they took 14 seconds off the school record, BUT, MOST IMPORTANTLY - I wasn't mad no more...
