2008 Outdoor Preview

The outdoor season is right around the corner. As I am writing this, the official season begins tomorrow February 19, 2008. We just got back from the last open meet at UW yesterday, and overall I am very pleased with the progress of our athletes who trained all winter. Notable highlights from UW: Sarah Kathrein 26.03 in the 200m (lifetime best in that event is 26.02), Tressa Hoffman running 2:27.93 in the 800m. Both young ladies won their respected heats. Toby Maunu ran 4:48 in the mile and Wes Hughes ran 4:57 in the mile, which are both respectable times for them especially this early in the season. I keep having to remind myself that Toby has never run further (workout or race) than 1 1/2 miles before this cross country season. He is a very talented runner, and with more training and understanding of race strategy he is going to be phenomenal. Last season Wes suffered from planer faciatis. Anyone who has ever had that injury can attest to how painful it can be. I am happy to see him running and enjoying himself. Both young men will be great additions to our distance events. We also had a couple of male sprinters compete. Brennan Nelson ran very well in both the 60m and the 400m. I was very impressed with his 400m (53.94) race since most of our workouts in the winter have been focusing on weight training, plyometrics, and shorter running intervals. I see a sub 50 time from him, either in the open 400m or a 4x400m split by the end of the season. Alex Yungeberg, our young sophomore ran a great 60m race for him. His start has improved so much from last year, and having a season his first season of high school track under his belt will give him a lot more confidence in his understanding of the sport, how to handle the workouts during the season, and how to compete at the big meets. I am looking for big things to come from Alex this season and in the seasons to come. Jordan Gray also ran the 60m. Jordan is primarily going to be our big Long Jumper and Triple Jumper, but in order to be really good in those events you have to be fast. I also look for Jordan to run a leg on our 4x100m team. Jordan had a good day in the long jump (20'3). We wanted more consistency in his approach, which is something we still need to work on, but as far as jumping that far this early in the season, I feel that distance is a great indicator as to what he will be capable of in the spring. His triple jump did not go as well as the LJ, although he did jump 40'1". What I have noticed from Jordan is that he is capable of making adjustments very well during a competition. At UW he was only given 3 jumps, sometimes he needs 6. That's the consistency aspect that I would like him to improve on.

The 2008 version of Sandy High School Track & Field will offer a lot of new names and faces, but the goal of the season remains constant: have fun, improve, compete! Some old names coming back for their last run that haven't been mentioned yet: Jacob Cuniff in the 800m, 1500m, and 4x400m relay. He's going to be a lot of fun for me to watch. He's worked really hard during the winter training season and is fit and poised to have a great outdoor season. Devin Connel (distance events). Devin is coming off ACL surgery. After missing soccer and XC season he was finally cleared to run in January. His progress has been steady. He is capable of running interval workouts on the track now, and we see very little of his injury affecting his running technique. His conditioning on the other hand, well let's just say I am glad it's a long season. Michael Seven (distance). Michael fractured his ankle during cross country season, so he missed competing in the last couple of meets. He is healed from that injury, and has been able to play in the majority of his basketball season. Track season will be a nice way to vindicate what he was unable to do during cross. Trevor Hayward (hurdles). Trevor broke his arm (badly) during the football season and has had to sit out the majority of his basketball season. I think he is very excited for his senior season of track & field. Elliot Frank is our other hurdler. Elliot dedicated himself this season to winter workouts and I think that when the first outdoor race comes around he's going to be shocked at how much he has improved over last season. Both Trevor and Elliot will benefit with the return of a familiar face on our coaching staff. Ryan Wecker, our former hurdles coach before he left for military service, has returned to coach again this season. He is a great addition to our coaching staff. Spencer Maunu (distance) is another senior returning for his last season. Spencer has been overshadowed a little by his younger brothers success, but Spencer runs for all the right reasons and is just a great person to have on our team. Eric Anderson (throws). I am looking for Eric to have a breakthrough season in the shot. He just learned how to throw the implement last year. He looks bigger, stronger, and faster this year and I expect him to be a major contributor to the team. Blake Bithell (discus, javelin). Blake had some big throws in the discus last year, unfortunately they all happened to be in practice. I think with consistency and confidence he will be one of the top throwers in our conference. AJ Schnell (sprints). I am looking for AJ to be the anchor leg of our 4x100m relay team. He has the right attitude to finish the race, and I think the other guys on the team will be very comfortable having AJ bring the baton home. Adam Martin (sprints, distance?) Adam is our special ed athlete, but his spirit and dedication are unparalleled. He ran cross country this season and showed amazing endurance, so we're still trying to figure out where Adam would do best on the track. But the smile has not changed and that's the most important thing.

Our girls team is going to be young. We have very few seniors on the team, which is great for our future. Ashlee Neal returns in the pole vault. I just wish her all of the best this season because she has had to over come so many obstacles just to be able to compete. For her to have a successful season would mean so much to her and her family. We'd like to help her right a happy end to the last chapter of her high school experience. Ashley Moss (javelin, discus). Ashley has had an equally rough time outside of track this past year. She returns as one of the conference's best in the javelin. A trip to state would be all the more fitting for this young lady and hopefully acceptance into the college that she would like to attend.

Some new faces that I believe will make significant impact to our team: Courtney Tripp (throws). Judging from her last seasons marks she will be one of the top contenders in the Mt. Hood Conference in both the shot and discus. Courtney also brings Dad (Sean Tripp) along, although I am sure Sean thinks of it the other way around, but either way Sean becomes another tremendous addition to our coaching staff. There are also a host of young freshman girls who I have seen compete at the youth meets who are ready to make their mark on Sandy High School Track & Field. It will be fun to see them develop and compete.

Some old names from last season looking to continue upon last season's success: Colton Safely (javelin). The defending Mt. Hood Conference champion is another year older and wiser. He's also go a couple new javelins to his arsenal of throwing implements. His sophomore season should be at least comparable to his frosh season. Siara Leininger (sprints). Siara had one of the most successful freshman seasons in recent memory being apart of the state champion team of 2006. Her sophomore season was marred by injury and inconsistency. I see this season as a rebirth for her. She looks fit, healthy and confident. She returns with so much experience that I forget that she still has one more season of track and field left. Katie Pelchar (high jump, triple jump). Katie returns for her sophomore year as on of the best high jumpers in the state. She has our school record at 5'5", and wants very badly to add both the district title, and state title to her resume. She is also one of the conferences top returning triple jumpers. Keree Smith (hurdles, jumps). Keree is probably our the most diverse athlete on our girls' team. She is our best hurdler, she can do all of the jumps well, and she is one of our best sprinters. One of my biggest issues facing Keree will be what four events does she do? Our group of XC girls this year was very solid, and with all of them returning for track season our distance events will be formidable. That group is led by senior Tressa Hoffma and juniors Lynsey Bender and Nicole Smith. The new freshman Caityln Lewis, and Hannah Leslie will add considerable depth to that squad.

I think that I have had enough fun thinking about the upcoming season and all of the great coaches and athletes I get to work with on a daily basis. I am excited for the upcoming season, more so than I have been for awhile. I am glad that we have a regular season, unlike the shortened one from last season. I am gitty that it is an Olympic year because that will give more exposure to the sport. But most of all, I am thankful I get to continue doing what I love to do for another season.