CHS Indoor Track prepares
for upcoming season

Mia Ferraro
CHS Class of 2022

(11/2020) The stands are still empty and the scoreboards are still dark, but that doesn’t mean our athletes are sitting idly by, waiting for the competitive season to begin. These athletes have been working hard in the Return to Play (RTP) Voluntary Conditioning and Skill-based Practices. Catoctin High School Supervisor of Athletics and Extracurricular Activities, Keith Bruck, says regarding RTP Voluntary Conditioning and Skill-based Practices, "I am so thankful that our student-athletes have had an opportunity to take part in these. Many of our student-athletes are struggling emotionally with the virtual learning model coupled with the fact that they aren't competing in the sports they love." He adds that, "The RTP practices have provided some sense of normalcy to them. The practices have allowed them to reconnect with their teammates and coaches." Bruck feels that student-athletes are fortunate in Frederick County. "Many counties haven't had the chance to do what we are doing."

The pandemic has affected everyone in one way or another, and high school sports has certainly not been excluded. Bruck explains that, "Obviously the pandemic has had a huge impact on the sporting world, including our small part of that world. I, as are so many others, am disappointed not to be seeing our student-athletes competing this fall." He adds that, "Hopefully the conditions will allow us to play starting in February, if not sooner." Bruck’s statement was based on a Maryland State Board of Education plan to begin high school sports on February 1. However, the board recently voted to move up the start date to December 7. It still remains to be seen whether or not Frederick County Public Schools will approve sports to begin on this date.

Coach David Lillard reports that the boy’s indoor track team is feeling positive and excited despite the pandemic. Lillard is the new head coach of the CHS boy’s indoor track, track and field, and cross country teams. He is working alongside Coach Lois Strickland to make this year as enjoyable and successful as possible for the athletes. He says of his team, "They may not be excited about the difficulty of the workout, but they’re excited to be hanging out with each other. They’re starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel." He reports further that the team is, "starting to see that things are going to get better--that things are going to go back to normal."

That doesn’t mean that the pandemic doesn’t present the team with new challenges, however. Practices have been as short as an hour and a half, which isn’t a lot of time to get everything done. In addition to this, indoor track competitions will be held outdoors this year, making the weather and temperature the biggest challenge facing the runners. "We’re used to being inside where it’s warm and we’re protected from the elements." Lillard explains, "We want to give these kids a chance to race but we can’t have a kid there for four or five hours waiting for an event, so we’re going to have to kind of deal with that--and with that, we’re going to have to give up wins in some events to make that happen." Lillard feels that the team understands that sacrifices like these are what will keep them healthy and successful. They realize the benefit to the community and the team. He shared that, "We wouldn’t be sacrificing if there wasn’t a purpose or reason to it," and, "With sacrifice, what you lose is what you gain."

When asked what the plans are to get the teams up and running once the restrictions are lifted, Lillard replied, "Business as usual. Keeping things as normal as possible now. That way when we are up and running, the kids are just ready to go. Getting them ready, keeping them ready, having them understand the routine." He is hoping everyone will stay positive about the upcoming season. Lillard, who came to Catoctin after coaching at Oakdale High School for 10 years, notes that he is very impressed with the positive attitude the other coaches are instilling in the athletes. "Coach Strickland and I-as coaches, our philosophy is that part of RTP is socialization. If we take that away, then we start to mess with the whole positive attitude."

Strickland is the head coach of the girl’s indoor track, track and field, and cross country teams. Last season, I had the opportunity to speak with Strickland, who has been coaching for five years now. Her presence has given the team a sense of stability after years of flux. Although she had never run track before, she became interested in it when her daughters started running. She began coaching as an assistant at Frederick High School, where she has worked as a front office secretary. She then became the head coach at Walkersville for a year before coming to Catoctin. This is her third year coaching at Catoctin. When we spoke last season, she stated that she very much enjoys seeing the excitement in a student when they run/throw a personal record. Last season, the Cougars steadily improved their times/distance with each competition, as the number of personal records grew with each meet. The indoor track season came to a rewarding end with several athletes placing at States. Seven boys and four girls participated individually in track events, ranging from sprints to distance. The girls placed in 4 events while the boys placed in 6. The boys team ended in 4th place overall while the girls team placed 7th overall in in state.

Strickland stated last season that the fact that there are so many disciplines in indoor track-encompassing sprints, mid-distance, distance, long jump, triple jump, high jump and pole vault-is what she finds most challenging in her position. "It can be difficult to find enough help to cover each area. This variety in events makes indoor track attractive to students, though, since it allows them to use their skills in whichever events they can succeed in. It also allows the multi-sport athlete to focus on events that will help them improve on skills needed in their particular sport." She said that she feels that many runners find that, while they work hard at practice, being able to find their particular niche in indoor track makes it a fun experience.

Strickland had said that she enjoys sharing her passion for running with the students, and that she feels that running is a necessary lifestyle and activity that anyone can do all throughout their life. To further support the team, Strickland worked hard last year to raise money to purchase cardio equipment for the athletes, who didn’t have a cardio room. She felt the kids deserved the equipment, so she decided to get them some. By the end of the year, she had raised enough money to purchase two new ellipticals for the program and had obtained a donation of a treadmill. Strickland has said that there is a lot of talent at Catoctin High School and that she would like to see more students join the team. The team always looks forward to new faces.