Track athlete performs the high jump. Photo taken by Stephanie Romeo.
With the Spring season coming in full swing, so are Spring sports at South Salem High School. Coaches started the track and field season on February 26 and scheduled practices daily. Those interested in preparing for the season began winter workouts on February 20. They have scheduled the final meet that will conclude the season for May 17 through 18.
It’s a great opportunity to meet new people since the track team is usually very large. Practice is 5 days/week plus in-town meets and out-of-town invites. Track meets can be long days, and being organized and able to stay up to date on academics is key,
track coach Robert Salberg said .
However, the no-cut nature of track and field allows teams to easily expand in size. There’s a varsity team for those who are more advanced and a junior varsity team for those who are new. Meets occur twice a week on Wednesdays, Fridays, or Saturdays, including invitationals, where only invited athletes have the opportunity to participate.
“As the throws coach, my plan is to always help my athletes be the best version of themselves they can be. I want every thrower to get a little bit better every day. To do this, I expect my throwers to be students of the sport so that they can understand how they can get better and so that they can help their teammates get better, too. Shotput, discus and javelin are technically challenging sports. Getting your body in the right position to use your strength is what makes a thrower great,” throwing coach Ryan Link-Cole said.
In track and field, there are more than just running events. There are throwing sports, such as shotput or javelin, as well as jumping sports such as long or high jump. Track and field aims to provide a place for everyone, and the coaches actively work to improve athletes to their highest potential. With new students and high hopes, the track and field coaches are in high spirits for the season.
