Marysville High School senior Jenna Rioch works out on the new track at the school in this file photo. Monarch athletes will compete in a “virtual” track meet with other schools as a way to stay connected with each other during the coronavirus pandemic-related school shutdown. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
High school spring sports programs in Ohio remain in limbo due to the coronavirus pandemic that has swept the globe.
Athletes are working on their own in order to stay in reasonable physical condition for if an abbreviated 2020 schedule is permitted.
While student-athletes are waiting to resume competition, the Marysville High School track program has found another way to keep runners connected.
“We are joining with several other schools to hold what we call a ‘virtual’ track meet,” said MHS head boys and girls coach Luke Sundermeier.
With schools throughout the state ordered shut down by Gov. Mike DeWine, athletes cannot join together to conduct any actual competition.
Sundermeier said several track coaches began communicating with each other and started to think outside the box.
“You know how coaches talk,” laughed Sundermeier. “The next thing you know, we came up with the idea of a virtual meet.”
Bloom Carroll will be among several schools taking part in the activity, said Sundermeier. He said he was still checking on Thursday to see what other schools will be involved.
The “meet” will primarily be for distance runners and those athletes will run a mile next Tuesday.
“We’re asking our athletes to measure off a mile and have a sibling or parent time them,” said Sundermeier. “They can do it in their neighborhoods, down a country road or even on a treadmill at home.
“We want them to do what they can within the social distancing guidelines.”
Athletes from different schools will submit their times and any pictures or videos they might take to their respective coaches. Those results will be put on a spread sheet.
“We’re going to score the competition like a cross-country meet,” said Sundermeier, who is also Marysville High School’s head coach in that sport.
The top five places will be recorded for team points. Results will be released sometime later next week.
As in cross-country, the lower team score wins.
“First place will be awarded one point, with two points for second place, three for third, four for fourth and five for fifth,” said Sundermeier.
Athletes from each school involved are being encouraged to wear their full uniforms or other school gear during the virtual meet.
“We want to make this feel like a real meet as much as we can,” said Sundermeier.
Sprinters for the various schools will also have a chance to compete via the virtual method.
“Our sprinters will start on Friday (today) and can go through Sunday since the weather is going to be nice,” said Sundermeier. “We want them to find a level piece of ground.
“We want them to measure standing long and triple jumps and also run their sprints,” said the coach. “They can do each event five times within the three-day period and submit to us an average of their best efforts.”
Those times and distances won’t be included on the distance race meet results.
“We will put the athletes’ best average times and jumps on a spread sheet to compare efforts,” said Sundermeier.
Athletes who are only involved in the weight events of discus and shot put won’t be a part of the virtual competition.
That, however, doesn’t mean those athletes are being ignored by their coaches.
“They are working on their footwork by themselves,” said Sundermeier. “They can also practice their throws if they find enough space (within social distancing guidelines) to do that.
“They can video what they are doing and send that to Coach (weight coach Chris) Terzis for him to evaluate.”
Sundermeier said there are 150 boys and girls who would compete for the Monarch program, if a 2020 season can be held.
While he and the coaching staff are not permitted to personally meet with any student-athletes, they are keeping in contact by various means.
“We’re calling them on the phone, e-mailing, texting or using other social media,” said Sundermeier. “We’ve checked in with more than 100 of the kids just to see how they are doing.”
Sundermeier said the Monarch athletes he’s been in contact with are doing well, considering the pandemic circumstances.
“They’re all hanging in there,” he said. “It’s just been tough for them, especially the seniors.
“It’s so important to keep on top of their mental health and spirits, along with what they are doing track-wise.”