By McKibben Jackinsky
Staff writer
With the state champs decided in basketball, hockey and skiing, it’s time for the Homer High School Mariners to move on to the sports of spring: baseball, softball, soccer and track. The next two months promise plenty of activity for the teams and offer plenty of opportunities for fans to show their
support and even lend a hand.
Track leads the way with the Big C Relays in Anchorage on April 4-5. Preparing for the event, Head Coach Bill Steyer and his team of about 30 students already are taking advantage of Homer High School’s track.
“The east turn has some snow on it, but they can coast over it,” said Steyer, “It’s a little chilly and they need to dress warm, but we’re practicing daily.”
Steyer is being assisted full time by Saundra Hudson. Randy Richter is providing part-time assistance with throwing. Head football coach Josh Fraley also is helping coach throwing.
“That’s how it should be,” said Steyer. “There should be a good coordination between football and track. We can both benefit.”
Of the students interested in track and field, Steyer said this year has about three times as many boys as girls.
“I don’t’ know why. Our girls came in second place in state (last year) and I was hoping we’d attract more girls, but there’s stiff competition with the other girls’ spring sports,” he said of other activities happening at the same time.
In the past, Mary Jo Cambridge of the Alaska Training Room has provided cross-training for the team. However, an increased public interest in the programs Cambridge offers at ATR has made that impossible this year.
“So, we’re doing our own,” said Steyer. “We’re disciples of (Chambers) so we’re doing cross-training twice a week, which is critical for any athletic program.”
The first season’s meet is the Big C Relays in Anchorage on April 4-5.
“It’s an annual, huge event with pretty much every track team in the state there,” said Steyer. “It’s a good way to kick off track and field.”
The next event is April 18-19 when teams come to Homer for the Homer Invite.
“Currently, we have 11 teams signed up,” said Steyer.
An event that size requires about 30 volunteers to help in the field and running events. Anyone interested in helping can call Steyer at 399-1078.
“We’ve got a lot of really good kids and I’m looking forward to molding them into some quality track and field athletes over the course of the season,” said Steyer. “We’ll have fun and we’ll see if we can put together a competitive group of boys and girls.”
McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.
.jackinsky@homernews.com.
SCHEDULE
Track and Field
April 04-05: Big C Relays at Anchorage
April 18-19: Homer Invite at Homer
April 25-26: Skyview Invite at Kenai
May 2-3: Palmer at Palmer
May 9-10: Boroughs, TBA
May 16-17: Regions at Anchorage
May 23-24: State at Diamond
Track and Field
April 4-5: Big C Relays
at Anchorage
April 18-19: Homer
Invite at Homer
April 25-26: Skyview Invite at Kenai
May 2-3: Palmer at Palmer
May 9-10: Boroughs, TBA
May 16-17: Regions at Anchorage
May 23-24: State at Diamond
