Coaches chime in on being snowed out

The track season kicked off last Monday, April 16, for a couple of Phillips County teams, as they attended the Scottie Qualifier in Glasgow.

Before their first action of the year, it seemed the season wouldn't start until later this month and teams were snowed in one month later than usual. Teams couldn't see their snow-covered tracks, let alone practice on them.

For Malta, Coach Tad Schye seemed optimistic about having indoor practice earlier this year, but he expressed a little concern last week because he hasn't had a track season where they haven't been able to have a real practice at mid-April.

"No, not this long," he said. "Our conditioning is pretty good but we will see what it's actually like when we get out on the track because it's a little bit different than being in the gym, obviously."

The Malta track team has been working hard indoors, but the team hasn't been able to practice every event.

"We have been working on all events but we haven't been able to throw discus or javelin," Coach Schye said. "The best events that we were able to do inside are high jump and hurdles. We have laid down a couple of lanes to do exchange zones and work on some rack things and our starts but I think the main deficits are in (discus and javelin), and not being able to jump into any sand."

Things changed for Malta a week or so ago as they found their way outside.

"We were able to run intervals outside and that is a big thing because the alley is cleaned off and the street has been cleaned off," Coach Schye said. "So we have been able to utilize that. We have been sticking to our same practice schedule indoors but we have had the good fortune to go outside and run even though one day it was 20 degrees. If you can go sledding in it, you can run in it."

The Panthers attended the Scottie Qualifier last Monday, but things weren't looking too good last Thursday, April 12.

"Right now this season 'sucks,'" Saco Coach Barry Malone said. "It's frustrating for both coaches and kids."

Saco has been one of the more fortunate teams that have been able to practice nearly every event in their gym including pole vault.

"We are lucky that we can vault and high jump in our gym easily, but when it comes to the horizontal jumps and throws we are limited with what we can do," Coach Malone said. "We do lots of running in the school, and some out north lane. 

The Panthers were allowed to practice in Glasgow last week.

"We did get to Glasgow's track yesterday (Wednesday) and the kids really did enjoy that," Coach Malone said. "We show up a little later towards the end of their practice and they let us use their facilities as long as we do not get in their way."

Whitewater also attended the Scottie Qualifier, but they were without their two seniors. According to Coach Charlene Wasson, the seniors will not be able to compete until the Glasgow Invitational on Saturday, April 28, giving them only three scheduled meets before the 3C District Tournament.

Like other schools, Whitewater has had to be creative to hold track practice.

"We haven't been able to get on our track at all or throwing areas," Coach Wasson said. "We are limited to the gym where we are equipped to do the shot and high jump to its full capacity everything else is limited. We've done a lot of jump rope, medicine ball workouts, and some running around the basketball court."

Coach Wasson hopes that there will be a semblance of normal practice this week.

"We are going to attempt to be on our track by the end of next week," Coach Wasson said. "I'm hoping things will work out. I've never seen weather or conditions like this. Most years by the end of March we are running on the track and if we wanted to we could always throw that wasn't a problem. Not sure how the year will end up but I'm hoping for the best."

Dodson has not seen a track meet yet, missing out on the Scottie Qualifier.

"Due to the inconvenient weather conditions, our track season has not gone as planned," Dodson Assistant Head Coach Natacha Doney said. "However, we are still in high spirits. We have a new high jump pit that our students have been practicing on in the gym, and our throwers have been throwing inside as well."

Coach Doney went on to say that their runners have ventured outside several times this year and she is optimistic that they will be attending the remaining meets scheduled this year.

"Despite the inopportune weather, we have hope that we will be able to attend the remaining track meets and end the 2018 track season successfully," Coach Doney said.