Coach Mikes Blog

in Uncategorized by coach mike on 28 Mar 2009

Friday 6 am. Roll out of bed, shower and head to work. Arrive at the office around 6:45 am. Busy Friday morning, 12 o’clock noon finally arrives and I head out of the office and head to the high school. Picked the Yukon, the vehicle, not the 3″ insulted roof. Load up the 7 track guys and head north to Bloomington. A fast trip north with no stops. “Q” would of liked to make a stop, because he was thirsty from the time we left the school parking lot. The trip up was fun, Jones and i listen to some real good music on the radio. “Q” who is now know as Leroy and Bryce kept stealing Jones candy. Wilkins listen to and watched his computer, Brummel got car sick, didn’t hear much out of Kubicki and Goff. Our little GPS took us right to gym where we needed to be and I taught the boys how to park a big rig in a small spot!  We arrived a little after 3pm. The place was packed, track people everywhere. The meet was due to start at 4 and as far as I could tell they started on time, but that was the last time anything was on time. Bryce’s event the 55M Hurdles was first. The guys started to warm up (way to early as we found out almost 2 hours later) and decided they needed some icy hot, of coarse no one had any, so being a good coach, not a smart coach, I found out where the nearest store was and walked the 3 block to the corner drug store and bought the icy hot, when I got back, found out that Brummell had some with him. 1 guy thinking a head. To kill time the guys went in search of phone numbers from all the hundreds of girls that were there to compete. Jones tried real hard to get Thomas some numbers. I think they came up with numbers to only found out later, the numbers belong to some rough sounding guys! The meet was moving at snail’s pace. A girl got hurt long jumping, she broke her leg and might of dislocated her hip, she laid in the sand pit for almost an hour before the EMT people were able to move her. This shut down all the running events,but the high jump and the pole vault continued. Saw the sophomore from Herrin clear 6′11 and set a new meet record. Also saw a 16′4 pole vaulter. Bryce ran a nice 55 hurdle in a time of 8:17 but didn’t get to the finals. Next up for us was the 4×800 relay. Kubicki ran a ok leg of 2:06 but things didn’t go well after that. Thomas went 2:11, which is what he has been doing, but then we had two legs of 2:14. Not a good race for us, but we know we have to be better. I did work the guys to hard the day before, but Jacob running a 2:06 tells me the other guys could of did better. Hopefully this will makes us better for later in the season. Brummell finally got on the track for the 400M, he was in the first heat of two and ran a good race for 350 meters and then hit the wall, but his time of 52.9 tied the school indoor record, he just needs to get better on the last 125 meters of the race. He placed 6th over all and was the only one to bring home a medal. Now we waited. The long jump was taking forever and LeRoy Q was in the last group or next to last group of triple jumpers. 9:30 came and pasted, 10:30 came and passed, I’m only guessing because it became like a dream, but maybe by 11:30 LeRoy was finally getting to jump. He had a nice first jump of 41′ 2″ and another 40′ plus jump, so he did good but not good enough to get a medal. Finally we were leaving and the meet was still running the 4×400. Marion and Carbondale were both still there when we left and they had at least one more hour of driving than we did. So about 12:30 am of the next day we were heading home. First time in the history of Salem track to compete in the same meet on two different days without stopping to sleep!  We headed out of the building and it was cold, the wind was blowing and we were parked (greatly I might say!) way back in the north forty, or maybe the east fifty. The guys ran faster to car then they did in the meet, screaming and yelling the whole time.  Even I ran for as long as I could! We needed gas so we had decided to get snacks at the gas station. We pulled into a  Huck’s store and after three attempts to match the gas tank on the same side as the gas pump I put $40 plus dollars of gas in the Yukon, the guys were inside buying a bunch of junk food. These guys confuse me sometimes, we have almost 3 hours of driving and Kubicki bought a gallon of chocolate milk?  These guys were buying energy drinks? Why? I did load up on Mountain Dew because I needed to stay a wake, I was never one of those to stay up all night  and to party guys, even when I was younger, midnight was real late for me. So I was worried about getting home. Brummell was going to be my co-pilot, well that didn’t last long, he got me to the inter state and when he was out like a light! Luckily LeRoy and Bryce talked most of the way home, about the best fights that they had seen or had been in, mostly seen I think! Wilkins added a few lines here and there, we also talked about some of different classes at school they were taking and having problems with. Byrce couldn’t fgiure out why some of the guys were taking classes that required a lot of home work? Good point Bryce!  So the trip home wasn’t too bad, except for someone snoring most of the trip( no names just initials JJ). Brummell, when he was a wake, did talk about SIU-C for awhile and the AG dorm. before he went lights out. Kubicki was busy staring at some electrical device. We arrived in the big city of Salem around 3:30 am. Thomas swearing never to go to another indoor meet, I can honestly say I had a good time, got a chance to visit a little with the guys, have some fun, see some good running and jumping. Crawled into bed between 3:30 and 4:00, woke to the sound of Bill Hawley and the Sports Show case. Somewhere in dream land, I remember dreaming about mice, they were in the wall and had chews a hole in the base board and were staring out at me. These were big furry mice. I kept thinking I needed to board up the holes, I don’t know way I dreamed this and I don’t know why I’m telling you this? Back to real life, I called the Show Case and gave a little report on the guys and the Indoor Classic. Live radio!  About the Indoor Classic, great idea, I know this was the first year for the 3 classes, but they need to make some changes, and I’m sure they will, but it took way to long, a lot of people were looking at 4 hour bus trips home. Anyway I had fun, enjoyed it, hope to do it again sometime.

After getting up, Vicky and I headed to Edwardsville to see the boys, took mom and dad with us. Had a nice trip, good lunch at 54 Street, took a nap at Rachelle’s. Had some good time with boys and then got home around 5:30 pm on Saturday, so I would say I have got the most out of the last almost 28 hours of my life. Getting too old to waste anytime, that for sure! Sorry this post was so long, but well, it just did, time to head to bed it is now10:29, time to start the 400m oh no that was last night! Later!

See ya at the finish line

Coach Mike

in Uncategorized by coach mike on 26 Mar 2009

First outdoor meet is on the books. We finished 2nd as a team to Mt Vernon. Could make excuses, no Matt Brummell did hurt, he would of won the 400M and we sure of would of been better in the 4×400. But you use what you have. Good things-4×8 was solid-800M guys were good. Prosise in the shot put. Sam at 12′6 in the pole vault. Hess at 11′ in pole vault.  Crossland in the 300’s that was a big surprise.  Q did what he does in the jumps. I do think as a whole we lacked toughness on the track. Some issues that I was not to happy about, that I will address. Right now its late and time for bed, big day coming up, then next week back to work. The harder you work the better you will get!

in Uncategorized by coach mike on 23 Mar 2009

1:30 pm Class A & AA Athletes can enter the Shirk Center
3:00 pm NATIONAL ANTHEM
3:05 pm LONG JUMP (AB,AG, AAB,AAG)
POLE VAULT (AG, followed by AB)
4:00 pm SHOT PUT (AB,AG, AAB, AAG)
HIGH JUMP (AG,AB, AAG, AAB)
TRIPLE JUMP (AG,AB, AAG, AAB) following long jump event
POLE VAULT (AAG) followed by AAG
5:00 pm PRELIMS- 55 METER DASH (Class AA only)
PRELIMS- 55 METER HIGH HURDLES (AA only)
4 X 800 RELAY
55 METER DASH FINALS
55 METER HIGH HURDLE FINALS
800 METER RUN
4 X 200 RELAY
400 METER DASH
1600 METER RUN
200 METER DASH
4 X 400 RELAY
9:30 pm Presentation of Athlete of the meet awards
(Order of Running Events: Girls A, Boys A, Girls AA, Boys AA)

Illinois Wesleyan University

Shirk Center

302 E Emerson Street

Bloomington, IL

I did notice that there would be a $10 per adult charge to get into the meet.

in Uncategorized by coach mike on 23 Mar 2009

I was just checkiing out the leaderboard on the Illinois Prep Top Times web site, our 4×800 relay team has been invited. We were a few seconds off, there wern’t a lot that quaified so they add the next fastest teams. So now we have Q in the triple jump, Matt in the 400M and Bryce in the 55M hurdles. Nice honor for these guys and for the program.

in Uncategorized by coach mike on 21 Mar 2009

Just returned from EIU Indoor meet at Charleston. This was a very tough meet. I think Belleville West won the meet on the AA and AAA side. Which would be a big upset with East St. Louis and Cahokia both there. We didn’t score any points. I was disappointed by that. I though maybe our 4×800 would place. But we needed to be a few seconds faster. Depending on whose splits you use, we either had two guys under 2:10 or just one. We are just missing putting things together there. Brummel was 9th in his race, the 400. We didn’t have Harris due to injury in the hurdles. Q was in the top 10-12 in the jumps. Some personal best from Travis Hess in the pole vault and Antonio Crossla in the high jump. We now move to the outdoor season and things will move fast from here on out, so hang onto your hat!

in meets by coach mike on 20 Mar 2009

March 7th SIU-C Indoor

March 21st EIU Indoor start time 1:30

March 26th Home meet outdoors everyone involved  starts at 4 pm

March 27th Indoor Classic Illinois Wesley

April 3rd O’Fallon relays at O’Fallon both varsity and JV Starts at 4 pm

April 7th Tri meet at home-everyone involved starts at 4 pm

April 10th Belleville West Invite starts at 11 am (Good Friday) Varsity plus 4×400 f/s relay

April 14th Highland JV meet starts at 4:00 pm

April 18th Orphan Relays at Centralia  time ??

April 21st Benton JV starts at 3:45pm relay meet

April 23rd o’Fallon Frosh meet starts at 4 pm

April 24th Mascoutah Invitational 4 pm

April 28th Mater Dei Home meet with girls everyone involved  4 pm

April 30th Mt. Vernon Frosh meet all freshmen 4 pm

May 5th Mt. Vernon Rams Relay 4 pm

May 7th Apollo Varsity at Effingham 4 pm

May 11th Apollo JV at Olney 10 am ???

May 18th Big Trojan at Charleston 4 pm

May 22nd Sectional at Triad High School 4 pm

May 25th Meet of Champions at SIU-C 3:45

May 28th thru 30th State Meet at Charleston

in Uncategorized by coach mike on 18 Mar 2009

Did not make it to practice today, between work and Hall of Fame meeting, too much going on, I guess thats why you have assistant coaches. Indoor meet coming up this Saturday. Then meet is being held at Eastern Illinois Universty at the indoor track next to the out door track. The class AA and AAA start in the afternoon around 1 pm.  Big meet with some real good teams. Another test for us. Bus leaves at 10:30 am.

in Uncategorized by coach mike on 12 Mar 2009

Looks like we are going to Triad for our sectional. Last time I was there they didn’t have a pole vault pit. I’m sure they must of added it since then. Involves a lot of work to run a sectional and a lot of people that know what is going on.

in Uncategorized by coach mike on 10 Mar 2009

We had a nice practice today, I feel like a lot was accomplished. I was able to work with the young kids for a while, actually most of the practice. Work a lot with the young hurdlers, had some very good help from Bryce and Cory. The main distance, middle distance guys put in a series of 200M runs. Took advantage of the good weather, which at this moment has headed east with the new front that just blew in a few hours ago. That means we are back to the colder weather for Wednesday. i notice we made the leader board on the Illinois Top Prep Times. I hope we can add a few more names to it after our next meet. I get real impatient this time of the year,  I want to be outside for  practice,  I want  everyone  to  show up, I want good attitudes, I want the real season to start. Speaking of patiences, I’m about to loose mine, with a couple of attitudes. Seems to be a few that, very few that can’t seem to focus on what they need to be doing. Too worried about what others are doing, or too worried about what I’m doing-I HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE-I MIGHT KNOW WHAT I’M DOING-I DO HAVE A PLAN-I ALWAYS HAVE A PLAN! I SEE THE BIG PICTURE-I’M LOOKING DOWN THE ROAD-WAY BEYOND WHAT MOST ARE ABLE TO LOOK! TRUST ME OR GET LEFT BEHIND! AND I WILL LEAVE YOU BEHIND!

in Uncategorized by coach mike on 08 Mar 2009

Indoor meets are always a lot of fun! Not! Running and jumping was not intended to be done inside. I know this because as kids growing up my brothers and I would get in trouble for running up and down the hallways and jumping onto the beds and over the couches and stuff like that, so if my mom said take that stuff outside, then thats where it was to take place. Of coarse today kids tend to spend all the time in doors, either sleeping , watching tv or playing videos games. But somewhere and sometime a bored track coach, who didn’t like basketball decided to host an indoor track meet, probably was somewhere winter lasted until middle May! Loaded the bus and headed south by 7:30 am- I always think we are going to get there to late, but we arrived a little before 9:00. The field events started at 10:00 so we were ok. I don’t know how many teams were there but I do know there were over 600 athletes signed up. I never know what to except, I guess thats why we have these meets. Figured our 4×800 relay and our 4×400 relay would do well, that Matt Brummel would perform and Jacob Kubicki would have a good day. Jordan Jones would run his race hard and probably Thomas Goff and Cory Nix would preform. Wasn’t sure about some of the other guys like Sam, because he had not had a lot of time to practice his jumps. So a lot of questions. Field events went ok- Quintin “Q Ball” Garrison had a very good day, we threw him into the high jump at the last moment, he only practice the high jump the last couple of days, he was able to clear 5′10 and can easily clear 6′2 or better, he was also strong in the triple jump and the long jump. His 41′4 triple jump should get him to the “indoor” state meet later this month. We did have two individuals place in the meet big surprise was Bryce Harris in the 55M hurdles, he had just finished basketball earlier in the week and had two days of practice, placed 5th with a time of 8.13. Good for Bryce! Matt Brummel placed 4th in the 400M dash, not a big surprise, but I wasn’t sure if Matt was ready to got that fast. His time should also get him invited to the Illinois Prep Time Indoor meet. The 4×800 relay team raced well, J Kubicki ran a real strong first leg, Goff was solid with the 2nd leg and Jones and Wilkins, good for the first race, 3rd and 4th legs. They finished 2nd in the meet, but Edwardsville killed the field by almost 20 seconds. Good news out out of that is they aren’t in our class state class anymore.  Other good things, Hess did well for his first indoor pole vault, clearing 10′. Sam’s 11′6 is a good starting point for him. The 4×200 relay won their heat, needs some work on hand offs, a little slow on their take offs. J Kubicki had a good open 800 and would of been better but, he got boxed in and and lost stride, probably cost him going under 2:10 after that 2:05 leg of the 4×800.  Some of the younger guys did ok, but at least we know areas where we need to work. Thats it for now! You can see compete results on the SIU-C web site or you can click on the link for the Illinois Prep Top Times site on my blog home page.