Bad weather rains on Alberton's track parade

It was the same old story for the Alberton track team last weekend. They traveled to Frenchtown for the TNT Invitational only to have the meet canceled after two events.  Coach Rachel Clevenger said that it was the same thing as last year.

“It’s just the way things have been going,” Clevenger said.

Clevenger said that it was pretty miserable in the morning while they were at the meet. Rain was falling and she said that by the time the hail started to fall, the kids were already packed up to go.

“They were cold and ready to head out,” Clevenger said.

Last season, it was tough for the team because they only had four meets during the regular season. Clevenger said that she hopes that they can get out more this season.

“Getting those kids in those meets is so important,” she said. “It’s more experience that they need.”

The students spent the first few days of practice in the gym and with the weather acting up as it has they might spend a few more days inside rather than out.

“We’ve been doing a lot of conditioning,” she said. “They’re sore right now, but we just haven’t been able to get outside.”

Clevenger said that she has 18 students out for track, which is a couple more than last year.

“It’s a good number,” she said. “Anything close to twenty is a good number.”

Clevenger said that she has five freshmen out and so the rest are returning from last year. She has her senior girls back—Dani Hanley, Jenna Rausch—and Jake Thompson, who competed at state last year in the triple jump.

Clevenger said that track is different from other sports because it encompasses so many different events within it.

“Every event in track is like its own sport and you have to be skilled in each one. The kids have to work hard,” Clevenger said.

She said that the kids seem to be excited for track.season.

“They know it means the end of the school year and they like to be outside,” Clevenger said. “They’ve become pretty social and like talking with other kids at meets, hanging out. I think track is more relaxed than other sports.”

Clevenger said that as coach she feels that her biggest job is to keep the kids motivated throughout the season.

“I want to keep them from getting discouraged and to keep it exciting. Track isn’t one of the most favored sports and most of them despise getting out and running, but they do it. So I want to keep it fun, keep practices moving,” Clevenger said. “I don’t want us to get stuck on one thing.”

The goals for this track season are similar to goals in the past.

“We would like to qualify as many kids for state. That’s our biggest goal,” Clevenger said.

The team will be at the Loyola Relays on April 5 this week and will also head to the Florence Invite on April 7.