Published in the May 25, 2016 edition
ON YOUR mark, get set, go! A large contingent of the 36 boys and girls participating in the youth track meet gathered at the starting line of the 800m race. (Courtesy Photo)
By MAUREEN DOHERTY
LYNNFIELD — Future Pioneer track and field athletes learned the basics of the sport at a meet designed for girls and boys in grades 3 through 8 recently.
Hosted by Pioneer track and field coaches Liane Cook and Bill Wallace, along with a crew of current members of the high school’s track programs, it provided an opportunity for the young athletes to learn about a variety of skills required by the sport.
“It was a great day,” remarked Cook. “Thirty-six younger athletes had fun learning the events and competing. And our older kids – the high school track team – had fun putting all of their skills they’ve learned into practice helping and teaching the youth.” It was the second such meet organized by Cook and Wallace. Last fall, seven boys and girls in middle school participated in the meet.
The meet was organized into four stations: 100-meter dash, 800-meter run, javelin and long jump. “The younger athletes were led by the track team members in a warm up jog and stretching. Then each group went to one of the stations where they had time to learn about the event, practice it, and finally compete in it. Each group then rotated to the next station,” Cook said.
Cook and Wallace kept track of the results and presented awards to the top two male and top two female athletes in each event.
“Bill and I want to thank all the parents who signed up their kids, all the young athletes who came out and tried track and field events, many for the first time, and a special thank you also to our high school track team for their excellent mentoring,” Cook said.
The meet results are posted below, with the exception of the 100-meter dash. Unfortunately, Cook explained, as the day’s events came to a close and with the threat of heavy rain imminent, those results were lost in the rush to gather up all of the equipment.
Javelin: girls
1. Olivia Murphy: 32’3”
2. Lily Williams: 25’7”
HAPPY CAMPERS. Boys and girls participating in the free track and field camp had a great time learning the basics of the sport from current high school Pioneer athletes and coaches. (Courtesy Photo)
Javelin: boys
1. Sezan Bey: 63’4”
2. Nathan Lopez: 61’3”
Long jump: girls
1. Olivia Murphy: 11’8”
2. Elizabeth Calnan:10’0”
Long jump: boys
1. Nathan Lopez: 12’11”
2. Andrew Shone: 12’9”
800m: girls
1. Olivia Murphy: 3:00
2. Erin Higdon: 3:20
800m: boys
1. Nathan Lopez: 2:59
2. Mike Murphy: 3:04
Questions about the meet or the track program may also be referred to either coach via e-mail. Liane Cook may be reached at: cookli@lynnfield.k12.ma.us. Bill Wallace may be reached at: wallacew@lynnfield.k12.ma.us.
