Track Programs without a Track..........

[qcyrunner]

Trying desperately to convince our school to start a track program for 2008/2009. One stumbling block that keeps coming up is how can you have a track program without a track. Got that aspect covered. For additional help though, can posters give names of schools south of I-80 which have track programs but not their own track. Not sure I can count the Peoria schools since they have use of Peoria Stadium (yes/no?). Please reply with names of any schools you are aware of. Please include schools with no tracks who co-op and use their partner school's track. Thanks!

[qcyrunner]

If anyone is an active poster on IHSS would you please consider posting this as I know a lot of downstate posters visit this site as well.

[rt20]

Sorry, not south of I-80 but Rockford Jefferson is doing quite well without their own track.

Plenty of Chicago public schools without tracks. I remember reading a book by an inner city coach and how he was so successful without a track , weight room etc. If I remember right his throwers lifted compact cars for one of their lifting drills.

[ROCK]

rt20 said:

Sorry, not south of I-80 but Rockford Jefferson is doing quite well without their own track.

Plenty of Chicago public schools without tracks. I remember reading a book by an inner city coach and how he was so successful without a track , weight room etc. If I remember right his throwers lifted compact cars for one of their lifting drills.

That book was by Ed Wallace. Great book for any track coach.

We (Whitney Young) have a pretty good track team w/o a track. It sucks sometimes, as we have to fight for space with other sports. Having an indoor track (there is none in the city of Chicago) would help immensly.

[ROCK]

here's the book:

www.amazon.com/Track-Field-Coachs-Survival-Guide/dp/0136165095/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1203627662&sr=1-20

[born2run]

I'm Graham Morris from Lawrenceville, we have about a 450 meter oval around our football field. Its pea gravel and i don't think it counts as a track. I don't even train on it because it is so uneven, but I do alright without it.

[qcyrunner]

Great info so far. Thank you everyone. I'll take whatever anyone wishes to share. I'm being challenged pretty hard. If you've been successful in track without a track, I want to hear about it. I'll also take every school name North of I-80 at this point. The fact that Barrington won a state title w/o a track is awesome. Keep the posts coming.

[rt20]

I'm pretty sure Durand HS has no track. They co-op with Pecatonica.

Also 99% of schools that compete in indoor track have no track to train on at that time of year, but still manage to compete in track meets during the winter.

[qcyrunner]

Great names so far. Pls indicate if the schools with cinder tracks are regulation in length with propoer turns, etc and just not used. Any other HS out there w/o any track, cinder or rubber? Thanks!

[xcgirl21]

Central A&M's high school has no track, but occassionally shares an old cinder/grass track with the middle school in assumption.

[dacse]

There are a couple of small schools in my county (Crawford) that have track teams, but do not have tracks. Oblong High does not have a track (they might have something similar to Lawrenceville). Hutsonville High does not have a track, but they co-op with Palestine, which does have a track.

I remember when I ran for Robinson, I hated the old cinder track. I guess I should have been grateful that we at least had a track.

[newpackman]

xcgirl21 said:

Central A&M's high school has no track, but occassionally shares an old cinder/grass track with the middle school in assumption.

Man I've run on that "track" before. It's terrible. It was a cross country race and we jumped on the track for like two hundred meters and there where four of us up front. They had a hurdle still on the track in lane one, and we kept trying to get the one guy from A@M to jump it. ;D

Also Somebody from there would have to give some input, but last time I ran at PBL they just had a cinder track. That was like two or three years ago, and it may have changed now.

[ochocinco]

Also Somebody from there would have to give some input, but last time I ran at PBL they just had a cinder track. That was like two or three years ago, and it may have changed now.

Ya PBL just got a new all weather 8 lane track this year. We had the amazing cinders in the past.

[warner752]

Lansing (Illiana Christian does not have a track either and we are in Class AA. We do most of our running on roads or parks

[qcyrunner]

warner752 said:

Lansing (Illiana Christian does not have a track either and we are in Class AA. We do most of our running on roads or parks

Just curious, where do you practice jumps, throws and sprints?

[acscoachp]

Aurora Christian girls have done quite well without a track. We borrow IMSA's. But this should be the last year, we have raised enough money to begin digging on our new football field and track. It was a miracle, 1 million in 90 days!!!

[qcyrunner]

Congratulations! I hope we get a chance to try to figure out areas to use for practices for now! How long is construction anticipated to last?

[acscoachp]

Are there any schools close by that would be willing to share? I think the plan for our field is track and football field by this fall's FB season, which means we can use it in time for a few intervals for CC as well.... we'll see. You know those kinds of projects seem to easily get off schedule. Its my sons senior year of foootball, so I'm hoping for him the time line is good....

[xcnccben]

acscoachp said:

Aurora Christian girls have done quite well without a track. We borrow IMSA's. But this should be the last year, we have raised enough money to begin digging on our new football field and track. It was a miracle, 1 million in 90 days!!!

Congrats AC! that is great!

[qcyrunner]

I was literally crucified for mentioning using a track in the area as it could imply an obligation! Hence I have to make provisions to do most everything on school grounds (outlying areas) and in a park a block away. Now if we just somehow get lost and stumble upon a track not being used now and then.............

[acscoachp]

Sometimes its better to get forgiveness, than permission....did I say that??

[qcyrunner]

Great minds think alike! But then again do those in a state of forgetfullness! Got to first get into the game before I can play the game. According to IHSA info your school has 344 students and offers SB and BB in addition to track. Has there been any talk of adding girls soccer or boys tennis? Of the schools I have listed, AC included, about half of the private schools w/o their own track facilities offer all 4 sports in addition to track. Many are smaller in enrollment than we are. One of my major, unfounded, obstacles is getting around fears that track will greatly harm the athletic pool available to the 4 existing programs. Heard the exact same unfounded worries when we added XC 8 years ago. It simply amazes me how unfounded fears can carry more weight than hard facts, but that's politics. 2 more weeks until a possible decision!

[acscoachp]

WE have actually moved now to 2A in Cross....boohooo. We will not get any new sports , according to our AD. We cant share the pool. 6 years ago, they gave kids the choice, go to the FB meeting or go to the soccer mtg. 9 went to socccer, 25 went to FB. And so, our program was born. But our AD has been very strict about this. I agree. When they thought of reinstating boys soccer, I cringed. I knew I would lose runners off of CC. But they never did. The problem is when you have a limited number of athletes, you spread the talent thin. We have in the fall alone 150 kids participating in our 4 fall sports. That is like half of our total enrollment. So we dont have alot of people top spare. I can see your point. I think the MORE kids you get involved in school activities, the less chance you have of losing them to some other crazy thing, you wish they wouldnt do.

[qcyrunner]

We've been 2A since the multiplier in XC. You'll get to like it! ;)Funny thing is that I heard the same henny penny worries regarding "dilution" of the athletic talent pool when boys XC was added 8 years ago. We have over 60% student participation in IHSA activities in the fall and every one of our programs has had increasing success the past 3-5 years. Dilution - PLEASE! In the spring with only offering SB, BB, Soc, and Tennis overall participation rates are <30%. With an enrollment of 450 this leaves close to 300 students just waiting to be diluted! I'm hearing the same worries despite this minor statistic. Two weeks from today this will be resolved using the right reasons or not.

[acscoachp]

I can see your point. There should be close to the same participation rates in the spring as in the fall. The kids would like track. It offers so much to all different talents. Where else can you put CC runners with FB players who can throw on the same team? How will it get resolved either way?

[qcyrunner]

For the right reasons it will be resolved with the interests of the students in mind, for the wrong reasons it will be denied because of pure speculation pertaining to the dilution effect of adding another sport to a stagnant to declining enrollment.

Did I mention that the coaching staff has agreed to coach for free for the first two seasons and that private donors have been secured so as to not put even a dollar of a financial burden upon the athletic budget? When enrollments are shrinking I would think that status quo isn't working so why not take a risk free chance that adding a track program just might enhance a couple students to stay with the school system?

[acscoachp]

You are sooo right! That is amazing that you got that kind of support. I am sure they admin is aware of all that, right? That it is basically free to them. I know in school communities, money speaks very loudly. I feel for you. We all do. To bypass such an amazing sport that incorporates so many kids with different talents, is such a shame. Here's hoping it will lean in your favor.

[melick]

First, I'd like to address your statement that you were "literally crucified"; you should press charges, that is literally not legal in Illinois.

Second, our high school program (EPG) practices on a 440 yard cinder track with no home meets. The neighboring community, Lexington, had a state finalist Alex Tanney (1600m) with no track and no home meets. I don't believe Brian Peterson at Fieldcrest has an all-weather track to practice on, but he got 11th? in the 1600 and second in the 3200. Delavan also does not have much of a track. We are all small schools, but we manage to continue programs despite lack of facilities.

[qcyrunner]

melick said:

First, I'd like to address your statement that you were "literally crucified"; you should press charges, that is literally not legal in Illinois.

Second, our high school program (EPG) practices on a 440 yard cinder track with no home meets. The neighboring community, Lexington, had a state finalist Alex Tanney (1600m) with no track and no home meets. I don't believe Brian Peterson at Fieldcrest has an all-weather track to practice on, but he got 11th? in the 1600 and second in the 3200. Delavan also does not have much of a track. We are all small schools, but we manage to continue programs despite lack of facilities.

I'm OK, no nail holes that I'm aware of! Good info on Lexington. I'm up to 57 schools out of 569 entered in this year's competition who compete without their own track facilities. That's over 10% and I really haven't listed many Chicago teams so the actual % may be closer to 15%! Thanks to everyone for all the feedback and encouragement. 1 more week! And yes, the admin is aware of the financial support. That's what scares them and keeps them from slam dunking the program without giving it a chance.

[rt20]

rt20 said:

Sorry, not south of I-80 but Rockford Jefferson is doing quite well without their own track.

www.rrstar.com/sports/x688586298


"Jefferson — slowly becoming a powerhouse of their own, even without a home track — has now won or shared the title in all of the past three seasons"