Members of the 2019 Lady Longhorn track team, who’ll open their season this week, are, front row from left, Brittany Chavez, Princess Valencia, Andrea Venegas-Veleta, Macy Coleman, Taylor Williams, Adelaide Maxwell, Rylie Mintling, second row from left, Josefina Garcia, Sydnie Allen, Maddi Brown, Hannah Meeske, Riley Owens, Kora Weiss, Kamrie Dillan, Kambree Meeske, Mallie McNair, Caelyn Long, Jerzee Milner, third row from left, Kendra Burke, Ryley Vrbas, Courtney Odens, Remington Yaw, Sydney Schilke, Morgan Peterson, Lindsey Mendenhall, Brooklyn Christensen, Jordan Jablonski, Chloe Dillan, Sophie Spady, back from left, Matalie Wallin, Mercedes Peterson, Madison Schuller, Kendall Prior, Alexis Richmond, Jozie Schilke, Delaney Krutsinger, Getsemani Hinojoza-Pedroza, Chloe Soltis and Ashley Bubak. Not pictured—Jorja Dannar, Sophie Fiedler, Dairani Medina, Allison Owings and Lucy Spady. (Johnson Publications photo)
With better weather, girls will ‘lock into consistency’ this week
It’s been one of the most frustrating starts to a season CCS Girls’ Track Coach Troy Hauxwell has experienced.
With winter weather that has hung on, and multiple other events taking athletes out of practice, he said he’s never felt this far behind.
“It kind of scares me,” he said.
But, when he considers the flooding in eastern Nebraska and that other schools have tracks underwater, he readjusts his thinking.
“I’ve always told the kids ‘control what you can control.’ I need to do that, too,” he smiled.
On Monday, the Lady Longhorns had been outside just three to four times, but looked forward to every day outdoors this week.
Hauxwell said they’ll work on fundamentals and endurance this week, “and hopefully lock in some consistency, too.”
Their first meet arrives today (Thursday) when they compete at the Perkins County quad meet. Other teams there will be Creek Valley and South Platte. It starts at 4 p.m.
With unlimited entries available, Hauxwell said they will treat the quad as a time to get some benchmarks in that can be built on the rest of the season.
Areas the coach won’t have to worry about are numbers and talent.
He expects to be strong in all events, particularly the sprints, middle distance, distance, throws, pole vault and relays.
While the experience may be light in the hurdles and jumps, Hauxwell said they have good athletes in those areas. Several were sidelined due to injuries last season, preventing them from gaining more experience.
“They may be less experienced, but I expect that strength to come,” he said.
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