Growing Sport Often on the Backburner

Legendary Syracuse University coach Luke LaPorta, once remarked, "Indoor Track is like the extra pig in the litter." Usually cast aside for its big brother, Indoor Track has trotted along since the 1960s, surviving only on the scraps of accolades. Recently, however, Indoor Track has gained local popularity and is proving it has merits that set it apart from Track and Field PIAA officially named Indoor Track and Field as part of its organization in 2006. Since that time, 8 local schools have elevated Indoor Track to an "official" sport: Boyertown, Conrad Weiser, Exeter, Hamburg, Muhlenberg, Reading, Wilson, and Wyomissing. Marred by budget cuts and a skewed view of the sport itself, many other schools have elected to eliminate the sport all together. Such was the case with Conrad Weiser High School who dropped the sport in the 1990s, only to re-instate it a few years later. According to Coach Denny Harman, since re-instatement, the roster has grown as much as 10% each year! Reading High School's Indoor Track coach, Louvell Butler has seen a similar increase in membership in recent years. Butler, who coaches three top sprinters in the state: Fatima Gaston, Malcolm Williams, and Romarr Mayne, has seen his program "...grow enormously." Reading's Indoor team now tops 50 members. The same can be said for the Wyomissing Indoor Track team. Since 2004, when half the team qualified for the State meet, the team averages 40 athletes a year. Coach Matt Babiarz attributes the rise in Indoor Track's popularity to its heightened presence on the Internet, making it a prime candidate as the next sport to be inducted into the Olympic Games. Both coaches agreed that Indoor Track is a fantastic way for athletes to stay in shape throughout the winter months. However, there is a clear divide on the position Indoor Track holds in high school athletics. Promoting a more traditional, club-like atmosphere, Schuylkill Valley Coach Terry McKechnie does not require that his athletes attend practice every day. "Don't push it," he states, "whoever wants to come work out, that's fine." McKechnie goes on to say that Indoor Track is only conditioning for the spring Track and Field season. Butler agrees, "Indoor Track is good for athletes who don't do anything between seasons." He encouraged sophomore Fatima Gaston to participate in Indoor Track in order to prepare for District competitions for the spring Track and Field season. Gaston made most of this extra practice as she has become one of the top ten sprinters in Pennsylvania. Early in the season, Gaston placed 3rd in the 55 Dash with a time of 7.72, her best time is 7.43. A more modern view of the sport has been adopted by Wyomissing Distance Coach Eric Uliasz, who cautioned not to lose sight of the fact that Indoor Track is still a stand-alone sport, "...not just preseason training." Uliasz's attitude toward the sport seems to be the growing trend across the United States. California, Colorado, New York, and New Jersey lead the way in highest achieving high school Indoor Track records. Pennsylvania has only recently begun to gain momentum. A common misconception is that Indoor Track is an event under the umbrella of Track and Field. In reality, the sport has its own attributes that set it apart. Most striking is the contrast in training conditions. Even though the sport is called Indoor Track, the athletes train outside every day, from December until March in most weather conditions. "The only thing we don't run in is sleet," Wyomissing's Babiarz laughed. On cold blustery days, laughter might be the only thing next to determination to keep most of the kids running. However, two local standouts show us how not even intolerable weather can shift the focus away from their sport. Senior Nicolette Miller of Wyomissing has qualified every time she has competed to run at the State meet. "I want to become Wyomissing's 1st four-time Indoor Track state qualifier," Miller admits. In her freshman year Miller competed at one of the two national meets and placed 7th. The victory was bittersweet in that it was one place away from All-American status. Since then she has become Wyomissing's top individual performer. At Lebanon Valley College, in January, Miller finished 1st in the 800 and anchored the winning Distance Medley Relay (DMR) team. Other teammates on the DME team were: Meg Shadduck, Rachel Early, and Noel Geraci. Miller also provides the team with material for laughter and team spirit. She spearheaded the annual scavenger hunt which includes racing through Wyomissing in costume! In the men's division Reading High School senior, Romarr Mayne, complements Miller's skill. Ranked 2nd in the state for the 55 m, Mayne believes that his parents' and friends' support help him do his best, "...they are very supportive, just coming to my track meets and... cheering for me means a great deal." Planning to attend East Stroudsburg University to major in law and sociology, Mayne hopes to obtain an athletic scholarship. This dream may become a reality, as Coach Butler describes Mayne as "... one of the top sprinters in the state!" Whatever their motivation, these young men and women are going places.