Marysville High School hurdler Evan Cavalouchy works on his steps for the event in the Marysville High School driveway. MHS track and field athletes and coaches are being creative in finding practice locations this year due to the renovation project at Monarch Stadium.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
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The 2019 preseason has meant a huge change for the Marysville High School track and field program.
With the renovation project having begun at Monarch Stadium, MHS’ boys and girls teams have become creative with its practice venues.
Distance runners have been working out along the Jim Simmons Trail, while sprinters and hurdlers are getting into shape by running in the school’s parking lots.
Shot putters and discus throwers are working on their steps in the yard in front of the building.
“It’s a little hectic getting things set up for practice and then putting stuff away afterwards,” said Marysville head coach Luke Sundermeier. “We’re also a little spread out here.”
The renovation project will include a new track-only stadium, adjacent to the football field. The current track at Monarch Stadium will be removed.
As a result of the work, MHS thinclads aren’t able to practice on the track and will not host any home meets this spring.
Although things are set up differently this preseason, Sundermeier said coaches and athletes are making the best of the situation.
“I think we’re all adapting fairly well as we go along, even if we’ve had a little bit of grumbling,” he said late last week. “Our sprinters and jumpers were inside (either in the gym or the field house) last week due to the weather. This is the first week we’ve had everyone outdoors.
“Whenever it rains this spring, we’ll have to adapt to running on the pavement or move everything indoors.”
As of late last week, there were athletes in some events who hadn’t been able to get in a lot of preseason work.
“We’ve had a lot less time to work on our skilled events, like the high jump and hurdles,” said Sundermeier. “We also haven’t done any (pole) vaulting.
“This, however, is only our second week of practice,” he said. “We’re primarily focusing on general fitness.
There are more than 120 boys and girls participating among the two teams this spring.
That’s a large number of athletes, considering that practice locations aren’t in a confined area.
Sundermeier, though, isn’t worried about the supervision of so many competitors.
“We have six paid coaches on the staff and a couple of volunteers,” he said. “We’re pretty good with having enough coaches to supervise the kids at various locations.
“I think the biggest challenge to all of this is that it will force us become better coaches.”
Although the Monarchs are using as much available space on campus as they can, they are receiving help from nearby colleagues.
“Fairbanks and North Union are allowing us to practice on their facilities after their practices are finished,” said Sundermeier. “They’ve really cooperated with us to share their facilities.
“At times, we’ll also take some athletes down to Dublin Scioto to work on some events.”
While the logistics for the 2019 season aren’t ideal, the Monarch coach said there are many benefits to be gained in the long run.
“For one thing, this is going to be an important lesson for our athletes and their parents,” said Sundermeier. “Things aren’t always going to go how your vision for them is… that’s life.
“We will find a way to work through all of this,” he said. “It is what it is.
“The vision we have to take, however, is one for the big picture,” he said. “When the project is completed, we are going to have a very nice track-only facility.
“It’s going to be something really nice for the kids and the community.”