Track takes week off, prepares for regional showdown

Coach changes practice strategy to fine tune team and help heal injuries

By PETER HILLS

The track and field team has the week off from competition after making some substantial improvements in Friday’s Twilight meet at Western Oregon.

Alejandro Dominquez-Morales ran a personal record (PR) in the 5,000 meters in 16:05.96. In the 800 meters he PR’d with 2:06.09.

Rolando Cruz PR’d in the 1500 at 4:12.58.

Isaac McNutt PR’d in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at 10:22.70, and ran by himself in the 400-meter hurdles, and still PR’d at 1:00.72.

Jeremiah Drelleshak PR’d at 156-04.00 in the hammer.

For the women, Hannah Gustafson PR’d in javelin with a throw of 118-01.00.

Angela Scott performed at seasonal best, according to head coach Matt Hart. “She might not have set PRs but she’s definately performing at a consistent high level,” said Hart.

In the women’s 1600-meter relay, they were entered at a time of 4:35 and ran 4:32.27.

The track and field team has this weekend off from any meets and Hart is taking the opportunity to get some extra training in. “We are on the recovery phase, the low impact phase. We’re allowing our bodies to recover from the hard season. Hopefully, we can be a little more fresh going into our championship season,” said Hart.

This week in practice Hart will change things up and do some work in the pool and on the bikes. “We are really trying to go low impact. We are trying to burn the sugar out of our muscles so our bodies are forced to hold more sugar. It’s part of a conditioning response. Then, we are also trying to allow less stress on our bones and our joints. Rather than breaking down the muscles we are building endurance. We want our muscles to heal up to about 95 to 100 percent and just give our kids the best opportunity that they can have,” said Hart.

Hart isn’t focused on any individual’s performance in the upcoming Southern Region Championships to be held at Mt. Hood on Saturday, May 13.

“I would like to see everybody improve, especially the people who show up to practice every day,” said Hart.