Track in the time of COVID
As if a dirt track and foul weather were not challenging enough
In a typical year I would be starting up track practice for my distance runners here at Custer County High School about now. Practice typically begins in mid-February, and we are usually joined by the runners who have been playing basketball in early March.
By mid-March we’re already competing in track meets, starting with the Pueblo Early Bird in Pueblo West. Last year we had 12 meets scheduled through mid-May before the coronavirus nixed the whole season just two days out from the Early Bird.
COVID-19 changed the high school sports calendar dramatically. We were able to have a shortened cross-country season in the fall, but football and volleyball were moved to spring. (Yes, football is in spring.) And track season now has been pushed out to May and June. My athletes will still be competing when school’s out for summer, and indeed my seniors will be competing as graduates.
I’m in charge of the distance runners which includes anyone running 400 meters and up — 800, 1600 and the 3200. Most of my runners also run cross-country.
With the track season lost, coaches were encouraged to hold voluntary practices throughout the late spring and summer. I held three per week and most of my runners came into cross-country season in really great shape. By then, cross-country was the only sport happening at our school. Though the season was truncated, and we had to deal with all sorts of COVID rules and regulations, we had a successful fall and four of my athletes competed at the state championships.
Track is a challenging sport to coach at Custer County in any season. For one thing our school is situated at 7,800 feet altitude and much of spring is still very much winter here. To top it off, I’m dealing with a dirt track that is often either covered with snow and ice, or deep with mud. As alternatives, I’ve measured out some straight-aways on flat pavement, and also use a town block around one of the parks as a makeshift “track.”
For the most part the first time my kids see a real track is their first meet.
While most of my athletes do play basketball, and most of the girls will now play volleyball this spring, I have a couple of runners who are not in other sports, and one of them is my own son, Harrison, AKA “The Blur.” He is a junior now and has not competed at track since he was a freshman. He has maintained a consistent training program since cross-country season ended and is chomping at the bit to run track. He does not wish to wait until May.
Most indoor track meets have been canceled. However, I began to notice online some unofficial outdoor track meets for clubs. It’s interesting that other schools and coaches around the state have found ways to hold competitions outside of the traditional constructs.
I’ve been eyeing these club meets on Milesplit Colorado but most of them are in the Denver area and the idea of an early morning drive in the February cold to fight metro traffic does not appeal. I recently found an open meet in Parker on Feb. 27 for 1600 meter runners, but it quickly filled before I could get Harrison entered.
Hopefully we’ll have the opportunity to check one of these events out soon. Or perhaps I should consider hosting the Wildcat Dirt Track Club series.
Update: Have since gotten Harrison entered in the Colorado Elite Winter Track Series Meet #3 in Littleton on March 6.