BleacherCoaches.com

As competition heats up heading toward the District/State series, I thought I would put a link to the district 5 track website on for those who follow D5 track.

http://www.midatlanticsports.net/d5track.htm

That is a really well done webpage, HR. I enjoyed looking at it. Kudos to you!

times are slower this year, then years past... kinda disapointin ;(

Bedford boys in AA had a really good showing at the West Central Coaches meet. It's always good when a team wins a big invitational.

One word in AAA boys. Gehret! This meet has been going on for 60 years. Along comes this junior and sets 4 meet records. Next year he should do 4 different events and he may get 4 additional records. All I can say is wow,what an athlete.

Gehret should be a true star at this years state championship. On amazing thing I read in the Altoona article is that this was only the 2nd time he has entered the triple jump this year and he goes over 46'. I would think he would have a reasonable shot at Clinton Davis's state mark in the 400, but a multitude of events might hold him back. He may just run to win the 400 to save a little bit for the 4x1 or 4x4. He's definitely one of those athletes you must watch when at a meet.

Ctsoccer, D5 has had a pretty good run of athletes the last few years. It's a very small district and to have them turn out times that are at or near the the top of the state list is a little unreasonable. D5 has had 5 medals in the boys 1600 the last 4 years. In the previous 30 years there were only 5. It's unlikely that a small district is going to be able to maintain that kind of success.

I think the weather had a lot to do with the slower times this year. I know CR had only two or three meets with temps above 60....they also ran in the snow two times.

Gehret's performance last night was just amazing. Did I hear the announcer say his time in the 400 was the fastest in the US this year?

Did any one notice the number of people who stayed to watch the 4 x400?

I think that Gehrets 400 time was 8th in the nation according to the announcer. The triple jump is in the genes. Don't discount D5 on the girls side at the state meet. Taylor Crawford, Sarah Snyder, and Brandy Harris are all returning medalists and I wouldn't be surprised if one of them brought home a gold medal this year.

I wouldn't say the times are too bad for some of district 5 ,22 and sub 11 for millin is quality. Waltman has hit 44 plus again and he has a solid chance.Harris ,Crawford and Snyder have great chances in multiple events.Heck Bedford county owned the jumps last night at WCC(AA).As far as Gehret goes he could compete in the relays the 200 400 lj tj and possible the 100.I think the 200 ,400 and relays will be what he does at states.The coach could run alternates to save him for finals to cut down on the fatigue factor.Solid triple jump,I know his speed has alot to do with his jumping abilty in the long and triple jumps.I'd be surprised if he triples at states seeing how Lytle went 45' 9.5" last night.It will be interesting to see where his coach uses him.Look for altoona to hoist there 3rd state team track title in a row.(counting indoor states.)Don't be to surprised if they are in the running again next year as the have alot of talent back!

Winning states as a team really never impressed me that much. It really isn't as much a team event as the invitationals. The reason being is that it's only the qualifiers that participate at staes that can score. Depending on yhe strengths of each district, most teams are not truly or fully represented. Don't get me wrong, it's an accomplishment but states are geared towards the individual. Heck, I forget her name, I think she went to USC, but anyway last year I think she won triple A all by herself. Aah is it Krais?

Other performers at WCC.....Freshman (can't remember his name....I'm getting old) for Tyrone running a sub 50.? in the 400 and getting the record. It's not so much the time as it is the the fact that he's a freshman! Spisak in 1600 missed the record. He was boxed in at the beginning but a 4:18.? is still a pretty nice time considering no one was really pushing him. He then completed the toughest double winning the 3200 with a 9:27.?. Endress from Altoona got edged in the 800, but he ran a 1:54.?. Once again not overwhelming, but he's only a sophomore. Brooker ran the double against Spisak and had a nice showing in both events. The picture of Snyder going over the hurdle in the J-town Trib. was really an excellent shot of how to hurdle. She had perfect form.....low to the hurdle and arms perpendicular to her legs with good upper trunk position.

There were others and I'll let someone else give some feedback, but all in all, a tremendous spectator event! People who don't follow T&F just don't know what they're missing.

I get what you're saying about "team" and states but the rest of the team isn't needed at states b/c they won't finish in the top 8 and get any points. Yes, you only need a few individuals to dominate to win states and rarely can do it if one or two does. Still, it is an honor and a big accomplishment for a school. It isn't as big as football, basketball, volleyball, baseball/softball, soccer but is bigger than cross country, golf, swimming, tennis, field hockey.