Indoor Season Recap

Spring break in our district falls at the perfect time this track season, right as we transition from indoor to outdoor. Track is a strange season, it feels like it last forever but also is over before you know it. I think there is value in taking time in the midst of the season to reflect upon where we have come from and where we are going as we progress into the outdoor season.

The 2016 indoor campaign was a historic one for the Phoenix. Last year we set 7 indoor school records, the most since we open (obviously the first year we set 15). This year we set 9 school records!

The team has grown tremendously over the past few years. Three years ago (my first as head coach) we had just about 50 guys on the team, this year we have 115. The growth in the team has allowed us to grow into a more complete team. We have athletes in every discipline who are difference makers.

Here are a few of the big highlights from the indoor season:

Drew Slager is competing in his first season of track and field, but it certainly doesn’t seem like it. We knew as coaches that Drew would help the team in a lot of different areas, but what we didn’t know was what a stand out in triple jump he would be. Drew took his first crack at Triple at our first meet, and tied the school record (38’11.25), he has proceeded to smash his own record by 5 feet in the weeks following. Drew was the SWSC Indoor Conference Champion jumpin 43’11.25, and he is still just scratching the surface. Drew also we a member of our school record setting 4x200, and 4x400.

Another great addition as a newcomer is Jimmy Barkauskas. Jimmy is lighting fast. His best moment from the indoor season was his 22.8 4x200 split at our conference meet. Jimmy was also a member of the school record setting 4x200. Jimmy actually was very sick the day he ran his leg on the record relay, but didn’t let anyone know until after he had run his leg. That type of competitiveness is something that can’t be taught. Jimmy will be huge for the team in the sprints and the relays this spring.

Freshman Josh Ohiku smashed the school record in the high jump, when his PR went from 5’7’ to 5’11’ in one week. As Josh is now joined in the high jump world by Cam White, the competition should put them over the top to be a formidable duo in the high jump.

Those are a few of the new additions to the team who have played a pivotal role already. Here are a few guys who have stepped up from previous seasons to be ready to take the next step in May.

Kyle Graff broke the school record in the 55 hurdles by half a second when he ran a sub 8 hand timed race at Plainfield North. Kyle should be primed from a great outdoor campaign.

Kyle Goodwin broke his own school record in the 400 meter dash, running 51.89. If he can continue to progress he should have a crack at the finals in the 400 at the state meet.

Demetri Panici was a part of 4 school records this indoor season. He ran a school record in the 1600 in the Gauntlet Mile (maybe the highlight of the indoor season). He broke his own school record in the 800, running a IL #4 1:56.25 at the SWSC Conference meet, winning by 6 seconds. He was also a member of the 4x800 and 4x400 school records set at Proviso.

Speaking of relays, our final indoor meet allowed us to set new school records in every relay. Miranda, Goodwin, Barkauskas, and Slager set the new school record in the 4x200, a record that included an anchor leg from the only all-state sprinter in LWN history Julian Hylton. The 4x400 had a last second switch but it didn’t skip a beat with Miranda, Goodwin, Panici, and Slager setting a school record by .4. And not to be outdone by the other relays a 4x800 of Chomiak, Bechtold, Belavich and Panici broke the old record by 2 seconds. The team whose record they broke went on to run 7:58 outdoors.

Some other bright spots on the team have been:

Jamir Hunt took a huge leap in his training, he ran the second fastest 200 in North’s indoor history, and is now one of two athletes to break 23 indoors. Jamir also has stepped in as a great addition to our long jump crew.

Kyle Bechtold came off a brief illness to run a great leg in the 4x800 at Proviso.

John Chomiak is back after a rough fall in XC, running an indoor PR in the mile.

Ryan Drafke has been a standout freshman, he is the fastest indoor 800 runner in North history, slightly faster than Healy and Panici (good company to keep).

Ryan Schuetz has improved dramatically, improving his 1600 PR from 5:30 to 5:12 in a one week period. I know Ryan is ready for an outdoor sub 5.

The sophomore distance squad (Jung, Iozzo, Stajkowski, and Chomiak) continue to improve, I know once Wesner is healthy he will be right back in the mix.

And the last two guys to mention are making big time comebacks. Both had major knee surgeries. Cole Paraday was not able to compete indoors due to a torn meniscus, but is now back training and will be a force in the discus this spring, looking to defend his conference title. And finally Nick Miranda coming off ACL surgery made his indoor debut at conference with a solid rust busting double in the 60 and 200, and then the following week as the lead-off leg in both the 4x200 and 4x400.

The indoor season brought 9 school records and a great display of team depth. As we transition to outdoors, we know what the goals are for the team and will continue to move towards those as the nice weather approaches.