- What is Track And Field?
-
Track and Field
is a multi-event team sport in which individuals compete against
individuals from other teams in various events in order to score points for their respective team.
There are 18 total events which are competed in the state of Minnesota. These events are made up of:
12 Track Events*:
Sprinting Events: 100m, 200m, 400m, 4 x 100m (a.k.a. 400m Relay), 4 x 200m (a.k.a. 800m Relay), 4 x 400m (a.k.a. 1600m Relay)
Hurdle Events: 100m Intermediate Hurdles (girls), 110m High Hurdles (boys), 300m Low Hurdles (girls), 300m Intermediate Hurdles (boys)
Distance Events: 800m, 1600m, 3200m, 4 x 800m (a.k.a 3200m Relay)
6 Field Events*:
Jump Events: High Jump, Long Jump, Triple Jump, Pole Vault
Throwing Events: Discus and Shot Put
*Athletes
are allowed to compete in 4 events in any meet. These 4 events must be
a combination of both track and field events and can not be only track
or only field. An athlete may compete in 3 track events and 1 field
event; or 2 track events and 2 field events; or 1 track event and 3
field events. These are maximums. Most of our athletes will only be
competing in two or three events per meet, depending on specific meet restrictions and our ability to get all athletes an opportunity to compete.
- What do you need to participate in Track and Field?
-
You
will need to purchase a uniform, both the top and the bottom from the athletic office during the first two weeks of practice. Tops cost $20 and bottoms cost $20. The day(s) of uniform sales will be announced at practice. You must
compete in one of these uniforms to be legal during meets. If you have a uniform (both tops and bottoms) from a
previous year that still fits, you can use that. Make checks payable to
CDH.
Training shoes for your event are a must have. You should
have a good pair of running shoes. These will be enough for some
athletes. However, many athletes will want a pair of competition spikes or event
shoes for throwing or jumping. These shoes are made with the demands of
sprinting, jumping, or throwing in mind and will help support your feet
as you compete. They may also be used from time to time in practice for things like relay exchanges and other technique work.
Throughout the season the weather generally
gets warmer. But in the transitions from winter to spring and spring to summer
there can be many days where weather changes throughout the day. With
that being understood, you should always have a light jacket,
sweatshirt, hat, and light gloves, as well as, shorts and short sleeve
shirt available to you at practice and at meets. At the very least you
should keep a plastic trash bag in you backpack in the event it should
rain at a meet.
Many of the running workouts are based on performance - measured by time. So that you know how you are doing in your workout you need to bring a watch with you to practice. This does not have to be a fancy or expensive watch. Any watch with a stop watch will do. You are also encouraged to log your workouts so that you can see your progress and track your fitness. It will also help you to better understand when your body needs a rest.
Track and field is also a sport of intangibles.
You need to come to practice and meets with a good attitude. Be
positive about everything that you are doing. This will help to make it
seem less like work and lighten your burden. You will be more prepared
to do what is necessary to succeed.
- Practices
-
Early in the season
the team will meet at Cretin-Derham Hall in the lower gym, fitness center, or upper gym. Your
coach will inform you of the location. This may change from day to day.
Throwers will, however mostly be practicing on the mondo, and distance will be going outside.
Starting around the last week of March
practices will be moved from Cretin-Derham Hall to Macalester College's
Track on the corner of St. Claire Avenue and Snelling Avenue. This is
where the team will meet daily. From there event groups will split up for their workout. Your event coach
will let you know when this transition will be made.
Generally
practices will last for an hour and a half. We have to be done at
Macalester by 4:30 PM per our contract. We will start practice at 3:00
PM. DO NOT BE LATE. You are responsible for getting yourself to and
from practices. (Meet transportation is provided.) During the course of
a practice activities will vary from event group to event group. There
may be running, jumping, sprinting, throwing, weight lifting (at CDH),
calisthenics, or all of the above done by any or all groups in a single
day. Come prepared to work hard and be positive at the day's practice.
- Meets
-
Our first outdoor competition will be about the fourth week of the season, depending on Spring Break and the weather.
Athletes are expected to come to the meets to compete as well as
support their team mates. There are meets designated as JV and Varsity
as well as meets where JV and Varsity compete together.
Weekday
meets will start at 3:30 PM and will last until at least 6:30 PM. This
is a big time commitment. All athletes need to stay for the meet
and support their teammates in all events. During the course of the
meet athletes may work on homework, but should do it in a place where they can also support the team. It may be necessary for an athlete
to leave after a meet with their parent or guardian.
Weekend meets will
start at 12:00 PM and will last until at least 3:00 PM. Come prepared
to spend the day with your team. These are fun events which give you a
chance to compete against different teams than we normally would.
Competition rosters will be posted at practice on the first day of the
week. Athletes need to check these rosters and verify with the coach
which events they are scheduled to run. If you are in a relay and know
that you cannot come to the meet or stay until that event you must tell
your coach prior to the meet.
- Transportation
-
As
mentioned above athletes are responsible for their own transportation
to practice. After practice it is recommended that parents pick their athletes up at
Cretin-Derham Hall as Macalester College is not set-up for this type of
traffic.
Transportation to and from meets will be provided.
Athletes may leave with their parents at the end of a meet, but
not before having completed a cool down. They also must check in with a
coach before they leave.
Departure times are listed on the schedule for departures from CDH as well as approximate departures from the meet venue.
- Goals
-
As
individuals and a team we have accomplished many great things. We have
sent many individuals and relays from our team to the state meet. In
2005 the girls' team placed second in the Section 3AA meet and lead the
meet through the majority of events. It should be your intention to
work hard to continue to improve the team. In the process you will
improve your own performances.
As coaches, we ask our athletes do the very best that they can. This includes academically and athletically.
- Awards
- Through
hard work and dedication, athletes will have the opportunity to win
awards. As a team there are trophies for coming first in several of the
invitational meets we attend. As individuals, there are medals,
ribbons, and t-shirts that can be won for placing well in an event at some
meets.
Athletes who do not miss more than 4 practices and compete
in 5 meets have an opportunity to letter as long as they are working
hard, and have a positive attitude. Letters will be awarded after the
completion of the varsity season in June. There will be a team ice cream social the Friday after the section meet to confer letters and other awards.
