Naperville Central senior Michael Jopes has been in a boss mind set this season (Colin Boyle image)
I can't wait as state is coming closer by the blog. This week sectionals has arrived for the girls and conference meets for the boys. "Pressure busts pipes" as I always say and these last couple of weeks will tell the truth on every track and field athlete in the state.
Sectionals bring about coaching strategies as they try to position their squads for a run at the state team title. Do you go after an individual title or will an athlete be better served to help a relay team?
Athletes who were in what appeared to be a great position and were heavy favorites are now question marks to win state. There are some athletes around the state who have picked up some key victories in recent weeks, which may have just given an athlete a mental edge and confidence coming into sectionals. Athletes such as Cahokia's emerging star Mariya Hudson has come out of nowhere as of late and can use sectionals as a spring board to state and possibly a state title.
Sectionals allow those the last few weeks like Lincoln Way East to give us a friendly reminder they haven't gone anywhere. Just when you thought it was safe, coach Angelo Brown has quietly been in the lab tightening the screws on his 4x1 relay team. A sprinter such as Alexis Hyshaw (Lincoln Way East) who many may have written off after the indoor season, appears to be peaking at the right time to grab a state title or two.
Downers Grove North girls are expecting to a compete for a 3A state title in the 4x800m (Colin Boyle image)
The keys to sectionals is getting through the meet healthy, and performing at a high level. The key word to me as an athlete and as a coach has been real simple. ADVANCE! Execute each event -- solid handoffs in the zone, eliminate scratches, no mistakes on technique are crucial and simply worry only about this meet and the particular event you are in. An athlete can't think ahead and dream of the state meet. It's simply not promised.
This image of state is only achieved if everyone advances from the sectional round (Brenda Gamboa image)
The sectional meet is the biggest meet of the season. Why? Because without execution in this meet you won't see state. This will be a lot of athletes' last meet in their track careers and there are others who will use sectionals as a spring board to the ultimate goal.... the state title.