Coach Mikes Blog

in meets by coach mike on 29 Mar 2008

Not the best weather but at least it wasn’t real windy. A little bit on the cold side. We competed as well as we can against schools next year that will be in a different class from us. It would of been nice to have the 3 classes the last few years when we were stronger in some areas but it is what it is. Matt George won the discus, he is 2 and 0 as he pointed out to me. A couple of throws in the 144′ range. Otherwise we are weak in the throw area, this is an area I’m going to start trying to develop some young throwers. Over all the field events are struggling for us, probably Q Garrison has been are best surprise and he is part time, sharing with baseball, he tripled 38′9″ and just missed placing. Bartley is having problems finding the board. The high jump is ok, Sam and Kevin both over 6′0 and Sam looked good at 6′2. The pole vault is another story, problems there, all the schools over in the Metro east have “pole Vault” coaches, to be honest we are clue less, except for this point-you must be able to invert and if you are scared to do that, then you aren’t going any where but back to earth with the cross bar. When that pole bends you have to wait on it and ride it back up to the top, we aren’t doing that, we get scared and bail out! To the track-JJ was 2nd in the 3200M run, around 10.23, nice race, needs to maintain his form on the last “sprint.” He is tough and will work hard to get the job done. The sprint medley, the 4×110 shuttle and the 4×400 were all 3rd. Matt Brummel had a nice day as did Pruden and Wilkins. The sophomore and freshmen sprint teams ran well, but I needed to have them in the faster heat. Need to do some tinkering on these relay teams.

All in all when you can finish 4th in a meet like this, you should be pleased, and we are. And we know times will drop as it gets warmer.

in Personal by coach mike on 27 Mar 2008

Seems in our area right now, there are a lot of insurance claims. I don’t understand this act of nature or they use to call it “an act of God.” I’m sure God is sitting up there saying “drop that tree there and drive that car through that house and let the wind blow that tree on your neighbor’s house.” If your tree falls on your neighbor’s house your insurance doesn’t have to pay and they won’t pay you to have the tree cut off the house, because its an “act of nature!” What about all those people that live close to big rivers, can’t get flood insurance. The insurance companies don’t mind taking your premiums, but you better read the fine print! I’m not sure what is covered? Back to the act of nature, if you are driving down the road and hit a patch of ice, loose control and wreck, you’re going to get a ticket for “driving to fast for conditions.” No matter how slow you were going. There almost needs to be a sign that tells you what speed to go for different conditions. 10 mph if there’s 10 inches of snow? If you have that wreck and get that ticket, guess what? Your insurance rates probably will go up. But isn’t that an “act of nature?” This has nothing to do with track or cross country, but hey its my site! Good luck and watch out for nature, if you’re in the woods and a bear eats you! Its an “act of nature!” I’m not sure your life insurance will pay off!

in Uncategorized by coach mike on 26 Mar 2008

Leave early so you can finish work early, you drive hard, eat in the car. All so you can get back in time for practice.  Today I had a plan, divide and conquer.   Well at least  divide, these  guys you will never  control.  Almost  had a  good  practice, then  I lost  it  with  one of my  young  sprinters,  some  think to  much and try to voice  their ideas.  Some days I’m not up to others ideas.  But it was my fault, for the most part.  Any way we got most of our work in before the rains came. Hard to vault and throw the discus in the rain.  You can still run.

Big meet on Friday, I hope the weather holds up.

This is what we (coaches) are looking for.  George in the discus. The 4×200 f/s relay, the sprint medley, and the 4×400 relay. I would like to see Knapp in the finals of the hurdles, Sager over 6′2 in the high jump, Tony over 20 and 40 in the jumps. Follet over 11′6 in the vault. The 4×800 could be ok or better, and I’m hoping for a good race in the 3200M.

If we could do away with the bus ride, it might be fun.

in Practice by coach mike on 25 Mar 2008

Some days make you wonder, what the heck was I thinking? Today was one of those days. Just when you thought you had a group that wanted to work, someone sends you a different group. Where did they come from? They look the same, they have the same names as the guys from last week, but they are different, goofy, too much playing around. Oh well tomorrow is another day. Makes you wonder what they feed them some days. Oh Lord give me patience! I need to get some things done that is for sure, I need to work with the vaulters, the discus throwers, the jumpers, the hurdlers, sounds like everything but the distance guys, Coach K has that covered. Besides all of that I need to work too. Lord give me strength! I need help!

in meets by coach mike on 20 Mar 2008

Well we had our first outdoor meet of the season. We hosted a tri-meet with Mt. Vernon, Marion. After 6 plus inches of rain the past few days we were lucky to get this meet on the books. The grounds were marsh like, but we were able to get all the events in, we had to throw the shot put on the parking lot with the indoor shots. The meet went very well, the girls team stepped in big to provide a lot of help. High lights of the meet, or at least our first place finishes were as follows: Jones in the 1600 and the 3200. There was a real good race in the 1600 between our three guys; Jones, Nix, Kubicki and Cross from Mt. Vernon, the three broke from Nix after 3 laps and then the battle was on. The race came down to the final 100 m with Jones pulling it out, Kubicki 2nd and Cross 3rd. The race was fun to watch, probably the best of the day. Jones 4:48, Jacob 4:49 Cross 4:50 and Nix went 5:03. Brummell was good in the 400m and the 4×400, Pruden in the 800m and the 4×400. George in the discus was 1st with a throw of 142′. Lots of work in other areas, the throws need help, the jumps are not up to par yet, but we haven’t had a lot of time to work these areas. A group of sophomores looked good in the 200’s. Hemiover, Hanus and Hargis had good times for the 200’s. Things get tougher the next meet is a relay meet at O’Fallon, so foward we go, and we will see what happens.

in meets by coach mike on 16 Mar 2008

Back to the real world! The meet at SIU was good for a lot of reasons. The indoor meet at EIU brought us back to the small school in a big school world. We placed in only one event, the difference being, the difference between north and south, big and little, East St. Louis, Cahokia, Springfield Lanifer, and so forth and so forth. In  truth the quality of the meet seemed down to me, no great pole vaulter, no great high jumper, no real standout. Our distance people looked better, their times were better, our field events didn’t have a good day. Kory Pruden placed in the 800M with a time of 2.03.8. Wilkins won his heat in the 800M, Jones and Goff both broke the 5 minute mile mark. Jones runs a tough 1st 800 and then fades a little, Goff negative splits his 800’s in the mile. Things to work on, things to improve on. Nix looked better in the 4×800 and the 2 freshmen did a good job for their first times running that event. This week will be tough, its spring break and getting people to practice will be a real treat everyday. I almost thought about practicing like the colleges, here’s your workout for the week, do it on your own! This year will be a great challenge to get this group ready for the conference meet, I’m looking for some leadership. Not the type that puts the young kids down but the type that builds them up, because we need the young guys this year, for sure!

in Practice by coach mike on 14 Mar 2008

Every kid is different. Specially the younger kids.  I try not to treat everyone the same. Some need more attention  than others. The older guys want to establish their  place  in the pecking order, let the new kids know “whose boss.”  The problem with that is the younger kids sometimes are more timid, maybe a little scared, and you don’t want to chase them off.  I understand the order of things, the  seniors  had to go through it, so they expect the  new guys to  put up with it.  So we let it go some what.  I would like the older  guys  to  be  leaders, show the way, show what it takes  to  get  better and  be  good.  Most of the time  it takes a couple of  years  to learn great work habits.  Some  guys  have it the day they are born,  Matt  Brummel  for one, works  hard all the time  wants to get  better.  But most will do the bare minimum  or less.

in Uncategorized by coach mike on 11 Mar 2008

Middle of last week the cross country and the track teams lost a good friend and a supporter, Linda Lance Mobley. I had coached her son Luke since 4th grade through last year when he graduated from high school. She was around 55 years of age and had been battling a rare form of cancer for several years. Even during this time she and her husband Mike had been there for Luke and the team. If you need anything the Mobley’s were there. Team cookouts, hayrides, trips to the far north, they were always there for us. I’m not sure I had ever met a lady with as much courage as Linda. She could of given up years ago but that was not Linda. She also had continue to stay active for the local hospital where she had worked for several years in different positions of leadership.

Sometimes you just can’t think of the right words to describe a person like Linda. The only parent I have ever seen do cartwheels at her daughter’s basketball games in grade school, right out on the floor during time outs. She was always there for her kids and for all the kids. I know in my heart she is still watching over things, keeping Luke going, making sure Mike’s getting things done, loving the new grand baby, probably still keeping an eye on that hospital, and I have no doubt cheering for those cross country kids! Thank you Linda. I’m sure you’re staying busy, heaven just got a top of the line angel!

in Practice by coach mike on 11 Mar 2008

We were able to take the whole team outside yesterday. But it was colder than I thought. Why do boys not come prepared and girls do? Probably didn’t get a lot done, but it was good to be outside.  A few more came into the camp yesterday and that is good, numbers are important for success in a track program. The Freshmen need some more numbers, so we need to work on that. Today Tuesday the weather is going to be nicer as is Wednesday. Other good news for the day, some of the guys that were going to be gone this weekend, have decided to change their schedule and make the meet. The 1600M relay team wants to try and break the record.  Practice for “sprinter” consisted of 5 laps of straights and curves. Distance went on a long run and then need some speed work on the track. Some type of ladder work out. The shot putters got some good work in under Coach Bookhout.

in meets by coach mike on 09 Mar 2008

Finally a track meet! The Wildcats par took in the first track meet of the 2008 season. The SIU High school boys meet held at Carbondale. I didn’t really know what to expect , practices had been limited and some of the guys had just came off basketball season at the end of last week. But we ended up with some very good performances. Who needs practice? Field events started off real well, in the high jump, 3 guys, one who had never jumped, one that was injured all last year. So when we cleared the opening height, we were off to a good start. Sager, the injured one, ended clearing 6′2 looked good, and has 6′5 or better in him. Follet, number 1 from last year, struggled some but cleared 6′0″ to tie his best from last year. Then the 1st time jumper/middle distance/senior has no form, but has a lot of hop, cleared 6′. Thats Pruden. So those were highlights. Follet also pole vaults and he either pr’ed or tied his best from last year at 11′6″. That in its self is amazing since we had not been able to bend a pole or get steps down due to the weather. The other vaulter Jordan, no relation to Michael, cleared 10′. The other jumpers were ok and will get better, had a couple nice jumps from Hargis in the long jump. Our main jumper is having some ankle problems. Jones who has been ready to race for a month had a good outing in the 3200M, finished 4th in a time of 10:29. Back to Pruden, this guy has had no preseason training, went out and ran a 2:06 800M, finishing 4th, winning his heat. Kory was part of the school record setting 4×800 from last year. Brummel ran a good 400M in a time of 54.22 finishing 5th. After a long day, its always nice to see the 4×400 relays toe the line. We weren’t sure what some of the guys had left in the tank, but they sure showed us. We were in the next to last heat, Pruden got us off to good lead, Wilkins battled to keep us there and then Brummel opened it up a little, handing to our unknow Dan Conklin, Dan is about 6′4 or 5 and he was racing against a much shorter but a very fast kid from Belleville East. Dan did a great job of holding him off and keeping him in the 2nd lane and then pulled away. Officially this group set tied the school indoor record for the event. Coach Cummings and I were a little shocked but not totally. Pride goes a long way as does tradition. The last few years we have been good in this event, so the guys knows what it takes. Great job guys!

The team looks to be strong in some areas and needs some work in some, but the group has some talent and as long as we all work hard we’ll get better and hopefully reach our team goals. We have some nice additions in Doug Hanus in the sprints and some young freshmen that could help us.