No disrespect to returning birds and awaking bears, days that push back the wicked winter night or flowers struggling, shrugging through the half frozen earth. … Or to the grass that someday might be greening up under the trampled down brown bedding of unraked fall leaves and fat furry cats who trundle, stretch and stumble out of midday slumber all the while most definitely shedding fur— but spring never truly arrives until the sounds of labored breathing and feet slapping the hallways can be heard at Cook County High School.
Last Monday, March 23, Head Coach April Wahlstrom put her charges through some relay drills. Once around the halls with a baton and then pass it to a partner who would take his or her turn once around for a lap and so on and so on.
Down the way at the Arrowhead Center for Arts (ACA) Assistant Coach Chris Hegg worked with the sprinters, teaching them how to get out of the starting blocks.
Soon the throwers, jumpers and hurdlers will begin their disciplines, said Wahlstrom, but for now they are working on conditioning drills.
Wahlstrom welcomed 36 boys and girls to the track team this spring.
While the team is young—only two seniors are out—Wahlstrom sees quite a bit of potential in her kids.
“I think we will see a good number of athletes qualifying for the section meet,” she said.
Ten athletes will participate in the indoor Polar League meet at press time on March 28 in Superior, Wisconsin at the University of Wisconsin-Superior indoor field house.
“Because of spring break a lot of kids will be gone so we will only have a small contingent at the first meet,” she said.
Coming back this year are Molly Thomas in the 400 meters and Sophie Eliasen in the 200 meters. Distance runners Maya McHugh and Matea Acero have recovered from leg injuries and need only to build their distance base to perform well.
On the boys’ side, Sean MacDonell leads a bunch of talented young (7th and 8th grade) distance runners. Among those are Leif Anderson and Finn Garry. But for every athlete out practicing there is that chance to improve and learn to enjoy the true meaning of spring, track has arrived and robins and daffodils can’t be too far behind.
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