Cardinal Classic 2.28.17

Post date: Mar 1, 2017 4:17:24 PM

Progress is not always linear.

As we improve, it rarely occurs in a straight line. It zigs. It zags. Sometimes it goes backward before it continues forward.

We might be fixing our approach in high jump, breaking in a new pole to help us vault, or training through a race. These things take time.

We have had three meets in the last seven days, and progress has been evident, although not linear.

Last night at the Cardinal Classic on North Central College’s Al B. Carius track, the Minooka girls zigged and zagged and progressed.

Early in the meet, Emily Shelton went largely unchallenged in winning the 3200-meter run. This came one night after she, Ashley Tutt, Ali Mondrella, and Mackenzie Callahan won the 4x800-meter relay at Mustang Relays.

Brooklyn Bachmann, fresh off of basketball season, broke her own indoor school record in the pole vault with a jump of 9’6”. She finished second.

Alli Papesh set an indoor personal record in the high jump by jumping 5’2” and finishing fifth.

Emma Wiegmann set an overall personal record in the triple jump.

Madison Thompson set personal records in the indoor 55-meter and 200-meter dashes. Danyelle Myers ran an indoor best in the 200-meter dash, as well.

In shot put, Sydney Andreano, Harley Graham, and Sara Torres all set indoor personal records.

Gwen Barnes and Katelyn Gall set indoor bests in the 800-meter run and pole vault, respectively.

And then there were the freshmen, who were bright spots last week and continued to shine last night. Samantha Zurawski and Sydney Forrest are now on the leaderboard for some of the best freshmen to ever run the 55-meter dash for Minooka. They had positive impacts on relays, as well.

Nearly every other freshmen showed improvement from our first meet at Romeoville to last night.

My favorite races to watch were the 400s, both the open and in the relays. Minooka runners attacked their races with gusto, and the results were season’s bests across the board.

Not everything was a direct improvement. We were not at the top of our game in a few events. Handoffs in relays ranged from average to ugly. Inexperience showed itself many times throughout the night.

But many things have impressive me during the last week of meets, and not just our marks. Preparation for events has been tremendous. Fulfilling commitment to the team by putting forth great efforts in every event you’re entered — that has been awesome. And the enthusiasm and encouragement you’ve brought to each meet are noticeable. That will keep us progressing throughout the season.

Go Indians!

– Coach Thomas