Coach Mikes Blog

in meets by coach mike on 19 Apr 2008

Finished the week with a earthquake and the Al Joyner East St. Louis Classic in the rain. The field events, except the high jump was canceled. It rain, then it rain some more, then finally it stopped and then a cold wind started to blow. The meet went on, two teams went home, one being the last years state champs. We decided to stay through the 3200M run, distance guys like the rain. Well we won the 4×800, easily. Then when they announced the team score we were in 2nd place, so we stayed longer. Jones was 2nd in the 3200, and Kubicki who decided to run it after running the 4×800, was 5th! Some of the guys wanted to stay and see if we could score enough points to place as a team. Three team trophies are handed out, so we wanted to take a shot at that. Wilkins goes out and leads the 800M with Pruden hot on his heels, Pruden finished 2nd and Wilkins 3rd. Jones gets us a point in the 1600. Brummel points in the 100M and 400M. The 4×400 team of Wilkins, Pruden, Conklin and Brummel take 2nd place. Pontious runs the 200M but doesn’t place, he’s a shot putter! For all the efforts by a few we ended up short in the team total by 3 points! Now for the really sad part, I decided early on in this meet if someone came up to me and didn’t want to run, I would give them the option to bail out. Some what of a test. Looking back on the past is easier than predicting the future. As a coach, as the adult, I should been more forceful, we were there to compete, we should of did just that. We would of taken 2nd with out any problems, we were the 2nd best team left there, no doubt in my mind. I take some of the blame, the guys get some of the blame. There was a lot of messing around while we waited to see if the meet was going to be called off, we were not getting prepared because we didn’t want to be there in that type of weather. I realize that the field event guys would of did their events if the conditions would of been good, Josh and Sam wanted to vault, Matt and Dan wanted to throw, as did Pontious. The jumpers were there to do just that also. I should of put the 4×200 out there, the 200M runners and the hurdlers and high jumpers!!!! As they say now a days “my bad!” For those of you that read this, next time we will be there to do what we have to do, so don’t ask to bail, you already now the answer!

Couple more thoughts: Logan Pontious was out in the weather all night long, helping carry things, wanting to do something, so we let him run the 200M for fun. Also Thomas Goff was out there all night long. Kory Pruden wanted to step up and run the 200M right before the 4×400, I won’t let him, he was trying to pick up some more points for the team, for now on  KP, you do what you have to do for this team, I saw some leadership and I like to see that. Kubicki running that 3200M after the 4×800 was a sign of toughness, as was Wilkins in the 800M, and Matt Brummel was that old farm workhouse never giving up!  Some good efforts that should of been rewarded with a team trophy, but then again it wasn’t a total team effort was it?  So maybe that is the moral to the story-as it has been for Wildcat track for several years-Total Team Effort!!!

in Uncategorized by coach mike on 18 Apr 2008

Started rumbling just after 4:30 am. Max the super dog, had just came to get in bed with us, so maybe he knew something was up. First thought was a thunder storm, but no big winds outside. The last time a 5.4 hit was in 1968 and I was playing catch with Don Jones in the front yard. This date is also the date that the tornado blew through Salem a few years back. Weird. Anyway I was up so I thought I would let the world know we are ok in Southern Illinois.

Track meet today in East St. Louis, the events I think we should score in are: two places in the 3200M, one or two in the 1600M, maybe two places in the 800. The discus one for sure and could get two, the 4×800 relay top 3 if not better. The high jump, pole vault and the 4×400. And we could score in the open 400. Then we might not even get the meet due to the storm coming in.

in meets by coach mike on 16 Apr 2008

Its starting to look a lot like…………no not Christmas! Like another track season rushing toward that time of the year! Big meet time, time to start making some improvements. Time to start seeing some senior leadership! And I’m not talking about old guys like Cummings, I’m talking about Kory Pruden, Matt George, Ryan Knapp, Caleb Branch, Kevin Sager, Tony Bartley, ect ect. This is your team, your place on the history chart of Wildcat track and field. Its tough being a senior in a spring sport, lots of things going on, your heads are spinning around! But we need to stay focus on the jobs in front of us! How do you want to be remember? Conference champions? State qualifier? Its time to step up in practice, making sure you are ready for practice and ready to work hard in practice, lead by example! Then back down from no one in the meets! No matter where they are from or how good they are. Set the table for the big meal coming the first three weeks of May! This starts Friday night at East Side!

in meets by coach mike on 15 Apr 2008

Just got back from the Benton JV meet, the boys stepped up and won for the 3rd year out of four. Things didn’t start real well- we were getting hammered in the field events-well not hammered but not winning any events. As a team you are only as strong as your weakest links. Some say just fill the holes and move on, I think you need just to work harder and find someone, somewhere that can do the job! Highlights from Monday’s rescheduled Orphan Relays: Josh Jordan in the pole vault- a month ago- I would of bet the house Josh was done! Wasn’t showing for practice, was working, had given up. Something changed, he has now cleared 11’6 two meets in a row and is looking good at 12′. Sam is looking better also, so an event I was ready to give up on is now looking up! The hurdle shuttle 1st place! Knapp, Harris, Klop and Sager beat them all- I would of never thought about winning that at the O Relays! Good job young men! Matt the discus man threw one for a 138′ and second. The 4×800 was 2nd, the 4×400 was 2nd, the distance medley was 2nd. The distance kids are staying tough. At Benton the hurdles won both races, the discus relay won big Dan throwing 122′. JJ won 11’6 in pole vault to lead the way. Q Garrison was 39’9 in the triple. The 4×800, distance medley and 4×400 all won. Good day for the Jv boys! Two more meets this week, reminds me of grade school, easier to have a meet than to practice! The big event is getting close-Apollo Conference meet!

in Uncategorized by coach mike on 10 Apr 2008

Talked to Corey Hopkins today and he is now throwing the javelin. I would have him in the decathlon, he is a great athlete. Grant came by practice to help with the young guys and their hand offs, he was always the best at taking a hand off. We watched Q triple jump, he is a natural, I, then had him go to the high jump, as far as I know he has never done it, natural! Follett is starting to look better in practice in the vault, he will be thinking about 13′ by the end of the year. Jordan’s steps are off for some reason, he is under for some reason. With some good weather to practice, we could get some things done, but right now, we might need to be building an ark! The Orphan relays will be a cold one, I hope we come mentally prepared, the 4×800 should be in the race for the top spots after that who knows. We could score in the HJ, Discus, and maybe the vault, the 110 shuttle will be ok.Let me not forget the Jones mobile and the 3200M run! Go Wildcats- conference is less than a month away!

in meets by coach mike on 09 Apr 2008

Nice job-lots of good things-the relays were good-4×200 were a couple hand offs from having a real good time-the 4×800 battled for a good win-the 4×400 ran their guts out to take 2nd-Little Q keeps amazing me with his jumps-Harris and Klop have a thing going with the 110 hurdles. P-H x 3 starting to bond as a group, could make things interesting. Big Dan, oh Big Dan!  Good throw in the discus-need to be consistent and have a good sequence, but 119′ is a good start-and that split in the 4×400!  Thomas “Big T” Goff, is he the next beast of the Wildcat land? Jared B look strong through out the night. P-H x 3, Hargis, Heminover, Hanus had good nights-Hanus some of our fastest times in the 100 and 200. Middle H rode the bus home with the guys that was a highlight! You know even the extra guys did a good job! Don’t forget O’ “I’m not one of H’s” Dell handle his split in the 200 x4. Good night and Good Night!

in Uncategorized by coach mike on 06 Apr 2008

I just added the link to Doc Lee’s web site for photos he has been taking at the meets. Doc is from Mt. Vernon and runs the hurdle camp each summer that a lot of the Salem hurdlers have attended over the years. He has been taking photos at the meets for years and has decided to turn that into a small business (between looking at peoples feet and toes). He has several photos of Salem track guys already. Take a look if you get a chance, you may see something you like. The link is listed Photos on the Run.

in meets by coach mike on 06 Apr 2008

Wake up and check your hat at the hat check. I have never liked this meet, we never compete well there. Thats a excuse and not much of one. We are a young team, ands its twice as tough on them. We did talk about this on the bus before the meet. Told them it would be a difficult meet and all we could do was try and turn in some good times. Try to improve. Good news-the 4×800 ran their best time of the year and placed 2nd behind a good Belleville West team. Belleville West still talks about the race last year at the sectional when we beat them, we lost two of our horses and can’t race with them right now. But this group might have a shot of getting out, if we stay health. Cory Nix had his best race in the 3200, looked strong. Matt Brummel race hard and placed in the 400. Sager cleaned 6’0 in the high jump, but 6’2 is giving him problems. The throws were bad. George had a terrible day. To be fair, Pontious and Barecroft did as well as they have been doing. Hopefully the guys will step up and move forward. Pick up your hat, pull it down tight on your head and get back to work!!!!!! Thats all we can do!

in meets by coach mike on 02 Apr 2008

If children weren’t reading this I would have a few choice words for the meet on Tuesday night. A meet that use to be 3 teams had grow to 5 teams. The meet is set up as a everybody brings everybody and everybody does something. Translated means “this is going to take all night” and guess what, it almost did. I must give Marion lots of credit, they had the help and did a great job of running this meet. The weather was good for a most of the evening, until the sun went down and then the temperature dropped. Back to the issue of Marion running the meet, I have never understood how, you can host a meet and then ask your guest to work! At Salem and Marion, we always find the help, but some places, not to mention names, but the schools are located to the west, can’t get anyone to help, so the coaches work or you have to get someone to work. To me thats like come to my house for supper but you have to cook and do the dishes. On top of that the IHSA keeps giving these schools sectionals to run or to have the coaches run! But next year we go to 3 classes and no more BIG SCHOOLS! Now to the meet, the bus ride was fun, almost 50 boys on a bus is too many thats for sure! But we got there thinks to bus driver Tim, make that preacher Tim! We tied with Carbondale for top place in the meet, the guys for the most part performed well. The distance guys under the leadership of Coach K continue to shine. The 4×800 of Pruden, Wilkins, Kubicki and Jones won as did the 4×400 team of Pruden, Wilkins, Conklin, and Stud Brummel won again, easily. We are only 12 to 15 seconds behind the big schools to the west. George won the discus, he is 3-0, this weekend will be big for him. Sage Sager won the high jump in jump off! Pruden won the 800 with his best time of the year. Knapp is getting better in the hurdles as is Harris and Klop. The kids battle, they put out a good tough effort for the most part, I just wish we had one good sprinter, oh my kingdom for a sprinter! Oh well, we will do with what we have been given and be thankful!