Track Survives Roller Coaster Season

As track and field districts came to a close May 16, it meant the end of the season for many or even the end of a high school career for various seniors. With numbers of athletes vanishing and hardships increasing over the past year, the program found itself in a spot it had to get out of.

After breaking a record high number competitors in 2012, the program had lost nearly 40 participants since then. Whether it be athletes quitting, too many seniors graduating, not enough freshmen joining, or a combination of all three, the number of participants was down. “It was fun and competitive at the beginning, which I liked, but it got boring after awhile, and I didn’t get the sense of a ‘team feeling’ like I do with other sports,” said junior Tao Oulman.

Reasons for quitting of past participants varied from person to person. “It was not always something I looked forward to after school,” said senior Jessica Calhoun, a one- time long distance runner. In some cases, it was the attitudes of other athletes who shied some competitors away from the sport. “When I was part of the team, it seemed like many runners were not very enthusiastic about it,” said junior Max Rumaner, a former sprinter, “and this just gave off very negative vibes.”

Although the number of athletes on the team has dwindled over the past couple years, this has not changed returning athletes’ mindsets and attitudes towards the sport. In fact some believe that the decline has inspired them to step up and improve their skills.

When the 2014 season came around, the direction of the program was unclear. “The season started out on a rough note for sure, but we eventually grew together as a team,” said Mckenzie Hutchinson, junior long distance runner. Early on, the obstacles were tough for participants to overcome. “We had to battle not only the laziness of runners not showing up to practice but injuries too,” said junior Colin Kent-Daggett,  pole vaulter. As the season progressed, however, things began to change. “A little more than half way through the season, I began to notice a shift in focus,” Hutchinson said. “Runners were striving to get better, and that’s when I knew it was a turning point.”

The team’s practice and meet attendance improved. More meets were being won. At last, the season was capped off at the Metro district championships. “I thought Lincoln performed exceptionally well and better than expected in our regional district meet,” said sophomore Garrett Cheadle, discus thrower. At district, Tess Michaelson, senior, ran a 57.21 seconds for the 400 meter race and a 2:13.38 seconds in the 800 meter race, repeating as champion in both events with times that were close to but did not quite break state records. Senior Trevor Cheadle won the pole vault (13-08), and junior Josiah Langstaff won the 800m (1:55.31).

The boys finished fourth overall, and the girls were third. After a season that lasted several months, Lincoln sent seven of its male athletes and five of its female athletes to the state meet at Hayward Field in Eugene in a competition that lasted between May 22 and May 24. “After a long, interesting season, I can say that I was truly not disappointed with the efforts our team put forward,” said head coach Charlotte Richardson. Although none of the competitors took first place in their events, Lincoln managed to place 13th in state for both the boys and girls.

“We have definitely had some dysfunctional issues to overcome early on, but we made sure this didn’t stump us,” said Kent-Daggett. “We got through this season, learned from this season, and in the end we are progressing forward.” Hutchinson agreed. “There is still a hard-working, very focused core group of athletes that maintain their work ethic throughout the ups and downs,” he said.  “The numbers may have changed, but we are still strong.”