Fresh faces for Loggers track
<p>Emma Gruber (7th grade) middle school track meet May 2, 2014.</p>
<p>Back row from left: Sam Lowry, Nik Gier, Caleb Hooper, Tanner DeHaven, Billy Topaz, Jonathan Miller, Justin Christiansen, Cooper Brown, Luke Adamson, Dalton Brown, Brandon Sadewasser, Dominic Voorhies, Logan Nelson, Tucker Zimmerman, Trevor Sackett. Middle row from left: Marlena Urvater, Kacie Berget, Miguel Hernandez, Gavy Oliver, Jessica Miller, Lauren Burrell, Erin Jager, Asia Jones, Hailey Craig, Tyler Schwerdtfeger, Patrick Keogh, Trysten Schwerdtfeger, Cody Barrick, Robert Aiken. Front row from left: Shyla Stevenson, Trinity Wallace, Karley Kurle, Liz Vanderhoef, Devan Fuhlendo…
<p>Shyla Stevenson competes in javelin Saturday during the Libby Invite April 26, 2014.</p>
Libby head track coach Jim May said a lot of questions will be answered after the team competes in their first meet on March 28 in Eureka.
May said only a couple of athletes are returning who competed at the state meet last year, which leaves plenty of room for new faces to step up and claim their spot at this year’s meet at season’s end.
“Our team is eager to get going. We’ve got some motivated boys who are either back on the team and some who are new to the sport. The girls return some quality kids and they also have some athletes returning from injuries last year who are pretty hungry,” May said.
The squad reportedly has 50 students who will dedicate their spring to improving their times and distances throughout the season for all to see; a gutsy endeavor. May said the team has good chemistry and a lot of potential to make good things happen.
May said the goals for team members aren’t the same for each athlete.
Some just want to go out to get some exercise and others hope to compete at a high level to earn a place in the divisional and state meets. Both are goals May is happy to accommodate.
“Our goal is just to have the kids perform as well as they can in the event they’re competing in and to perform better every week,” he said.
The team returns several coaches who have served to increase the performance of Logger athletes for years.
“We have the most experienced coaching staff in the conference and the kids are responding,” May said.
Coaching javelin and discus is Tim Hodel; hurdles, sprints and relays are coached by Ed Tabis; Rod Tempel coaches pole vault; Dan Rose trains the distance runners; Josh Bean manages the shot put and high jump and May teaches the kids to fly in the long jump and triple jump.
May said the boys and girls relay teams just performed their time trials and both squads were putting up very competitive times for this early in the season.
He is currently trying to decide which events will best suit the team members.
“The young girl runners are showing a lot of promise. We are working to see which events they may do best at initially.”
May is also excited for the team to have four track meets at their home facilities, one of which is the Northwestern A Divisional meet on May 15 and 16.
“This is a great place for track meets. We hope people come out to watch the kids compete and volunteer if possible,” May said.
He recommends volunteers contact Wayne Baker at Libby High School if they’re interested in helping; no experience is necessary.
The team will also be running on the road April 7 for the Flathead Trials in Kalispell.
The earliest home fans will be able to catch the team compete in 17 events will be on Saturday, April 18 at 10 a.m. when they come home to host the Libby Invite.