Tara Smart could be one of 2016's biggest surprises if she continues her continuum of progress as evidenced by early returns in Canada (Abe Jones photo)
Like a thief in the night amid the spotlight of the national cross country season, the Track My Speed Track Club was busy tracking down quality performances north of the border in Toronto, Canada. Several years ago Trackmyspeed founder and head coach Abe Jones masterminded a plan to get some of his yearlings into competition prior to the unofficial indoor season in the Midwest that generally does not begin in earnest before January. At the time it seemed a little silly to have kids racing in track and field competition before Thanksgiving. Jones is one of the most intense track club coaches out there who runs a year long program which in particular, the fall season is about training and development. If you take the three months after the school academic calendar begins in August, it only makes sense to see the fruits of labor. Thus, the reason to compete in a few competitions prior to the lull in the winter break is valid.
York University in Toronto is a well respected academic institution with a reputation known throughout North American for Psychology and Women's studies. York's law and business schools are of note. The athletic programs are strong as well including track and field which sponsor several top flight meets.
Kristen LaCosse (#48) battles a foe at the Toronto Xmas Open (Abe Jones photo)
York University Xmas Open 1 & 2 (11/28/15) / (12/4-5/15)-
Kristen LaCosse (Jr., Crown Point, IN) is no stranger to Illinois. She trek across the border from the Hoosier state quite a bit last summer for training and competition. Along the way in competing for Track My Speed Indiana, LaCosse improved her resume from a bevy of races throughout the circuit that culminated with several All-American honors at the USATF Junior Olympic National Championships.
LaCosse had a coming out party in Toronto in which she completed the heavy workload: 60m Prelim 7.93q 1st, 60m Final 7.94 4th, 60mH Prelim 8.99 3rd, 60mH Final 9.2 5th, 400m Final 60.67 2nd, 800m Final 2:27.87. Along the way she added to her hardware collection with 1st place 26.21 / 200m and 2nd 17' 7" / Long Jump.
Coach Abe offered the sentiments: "From the outside looking in, her marks don't look like much. While you are still looking in, let's take a quick look around. It is December, averaging 35 degrees, most track girls are involved with other sports (finishing soccer, starting basketball or doing nothing), and how can we forget this is the Midwest."
Tara Smith 800 race-
You may not know Tara Smart (Sr., Winnetka New Trier) but you may as the season progresses into 2016. Smart is best known for running the 400m for which she has a personal best of 57.81. Jones indicated that Smart was inconsistent and had dealt with some injuries over the past two school seasons. In the second York Open, Smart ran several races of note. In the 400, she finished second behind teammate LaCosse (58.40) in 1:00.36. Smart later returned to run a personal best and very early IL #1 800m time of 2:24.27. New Trier produced one of the fastest 4x8 relays last season clocking 9:18.02. All four starters of that IL #7 team return. Perhaps the coaching staff will have a slot for Smart if need be. One thing is for certain, the Lady Trevians middle distance unit just got a little deeper.