(Publisher’s note: This is the second in a series of stories explaining spring sports to the non-sports minded. The goal of this series is to get you to attend a spring sporting event. Or two. The first story focused on lacrosse.)
Of all the sports you choose to watch this spring, the most varied might be Chelsea track and field.
Why? Because there are 17 different events that take place over the course of about three hours, so you might want to pace yourself.
There’s long-distance running and short-distance sprinting and relays with baton passing and hurdle jumping. And that’s just on the track.
Next to or on the infield of the track, there are other athletes who take flight, straight up like a helicopter, with the assistance of a 12-15 foot fiberglass pole attempting to go over a bar that’s hung 8 or more feet in the air.
You’ll have an opportunity to watch athletes heave a 2 ½-meter discus or spin in a circle before throwing a 12-pound shot put. (Hint: each thrower gets three tries and their best attempt is counted).
Plus, many times you can view both the boy’s and the girl’s teams compete at the same meet.
So, please, take note, on Friday, April 20 will be one of only two opportunities left this spring to attend Bulldog Track and Field at home. And this event is a special one – the Chelsea Relays, which begin at 2:30 p.m. inside the football stadium. (More on this event at the end of the story.)
So, what’s the difference between track and field events? Track events are timed; field events are measured.
Unlike hitting a tennis ball over a net or hitting a golf ball into the distance, each track and field event involves a different sound or sight.
From the rhythmic crunching of the cleats on the track; to the hollow thud of the shot put when it hits the ground; to the click of the pole as it’s planted for a vault.
There’s quiet before the start of a race; followed by the sound of a cap gun that signals the start, and then there’s the cheering of the crowd. (That’s where you can get involved.)
Listen for the deep grunts of the sprinters as they explode forward out of their starting blocks for speed or the guttural sounds emitted from deep within as field athletes heave heavy objects through the air for distance.
The field (or strength events) – shot put, discus, pole vault, long and high jump — offer athletes with different skill sets to be part of the track team.
While the track (running, relay or hurdle events) feature either long distance runners in events such as the 1,600 meters or the 3,200 relay. Or for those who like speed, there are the 100-meter dash or the 110-meter hurdles that feature sprinters. (In case you were wondering, the 100-meter dash is 109 yards.)
And then there’s the teamwork of the four athletes involved in the relay events.
In the sprint events, look for the high knee and fast arm action of explosive energy and contrast that with the efficient and smooth strides of the long- and middle-distance runners.
In the field events, focus on the transfer of energy from the athlete to the fiberglass pole as that stored energy propels the athletes through the air. And watch the unusual circular set up of the throwers before they let the discus or shot put fly.
In the last 21 years, Chelsea boys track has amassed a vaulted history with nine SEC championships, five regional championships and 12 teams finishing in the top 15 in the state meet under the watchful eye of coach Eric Swager.
In fact, when Swager took over the program as its head coach in 1997, it was Chelsea’s last losing season.
This year, the track and field coaches consist of Kari Goorhouse (throws), Bert Kruse (hurdles), Shane Rodriquez (pole vault), Loren Thorburn (girl’s head coach and sprints), and volunteers Jared Beaver (jumps), Jen McPherson, Mike Holik and Laura Lutz (distance runners).
Each event requires a different set of skills, acuity and ability – so these coaches help each athlete not only prepare during practices but also assist the athletes get in their individual zones, (sport’s lingo for visualizing and preparing to compete).
You may recognize the names and faces of track athletes from other sports or extracurricular activities. Some are multi-sport athletes, others sing or play an instrument while others might be working on Eagle Scout projects.
Swager says, “Chelsea is very good at getting kids involved in extracurriculars. There’s something for everyone.”
His coaching philosophy includes setting individual goals. “It helps when they see the connection between hard work and improvements.”
Early track meets serve as stepping stones for the end of the season, so this plan allows he and his coaches to try different things during meets and work on team building.
Although there are individual goals for each meet, there’s a big picture goal at the end of the season – the state championship.
He coaches his athletes to “work hard and be responsible because then a lot of good stuff happens.”
He expects the track and field athletes “to be proactive, accountable and on time” while at the same time, the school year is drawing to a close and numerous other activities occupy their minds.
And although the start of the season is important, it’s the persistence, the hard work and the finish that determines each athlete’s character and each team’s successes.
So, if life is considered a race to the finish, lessons learned on and off the Chelsea track go beyond tenths of seconds, centimeters or inches.
Track is a sport that needs no partners to participate and includes benefits that can be enjoyed for a lifetime.
As mentioned earlier in the story, Friday is the Chelsea Relays. The weather is supposed to be nice, and it’s a wonderful opportunity for fans to cheer on the Bulldogs and watch a great track and field meet.
Field events begins at 2:30 p.m., running events begin at 3:30 p.m.
Plus, there’s the 3200 Run – for parents, siblings, and anyone in the community. The race is a beautiful loop around the Pierce Lake School property, finishing on the track in front of hundreds of screaming fans. The race is free, and the team hopes to get a large crowd for this fun family event.
If you can’t make it to the meet on Friday, the only other opportunity to see track and field at home is Tuesday, May 1 vs. Tecumseh and Pinckney.
Now that you’ve got an overview of what will take place, hope to see you there.
Go Bulldogs.
That was one of the best write-ups I’ve ever read explaining the
nuts and bolts of what goes on at a Track and Field event.
Good Job!