Track Season Begins Soon
By John Earp
This past Monday evening in the Panther Gym, JHS Head Track Coach Ricky Peacock held an informational meeting with all track participants and their parents. This is his first year coaching track in New Mexico, after a long career coaching track (as well as assistant coaching other sports like football) in Texas. According to the information handed out and discussed at the meeting, Peacock says track is considered an individual sport but must also be understood as a team sport made up of individual events, with all team members competing to win not only their individual events but also to aim to win meets as a team—especially the state meet. He also noted that the coaches want to help student-athletes to be faster and quicker in other sports they may play, with fundamentals and techniques being taught to help athletes improve their form. In addition, Peacock says practice is vital to helping the team become their best, with workouts every day, making allowance for dual-sport athletes, such as having morning track practice if there is an afternoon baseball game, etc. All unexcused missed practices will be made up the following day, with two unexcused absences in the same week resulting in the athlete not being able to participate in the meet that week. Coaches of other spring sports will work with each other to coordinate practice times for athletes playing more than one spring sport. Field events have their own coaches assisting Coach Peacock to provide more specialized instruction for the student-athletes. To the parents, he said, “We will do our best to help your son or daughter be successful, so please let us coach them. We ask for your help in encouraging your son or daughter to do their best and to recognize the improvements they make in their time and/or distances.”
Peacock continued, “We ask that your son or daughter ride to and from the meets with the team. If you have some reason for them not to ride the bus, please notify me prior to the day of the meet to work out arrangements. Athletes will need to stay till the track meet is completed for that day (same as other sports) and will need to be checked out by you with their coach before they will be released. Equipment such as uniforms and sweats will be provided by the school. Athletes will be responsible for their care and upkeep of their equipment. Any lost items will need to be replaced at the school’s cost for that item. Athletes will need some flats for running practice for competition, depending on their event. Please let us know if you have questions about either one. Any schedule/practice change notifications or updates will be shared on the Parent Square app. The track meet schedule can be found on the school website.”
Other ways Coach Peacock asks the parents to help had to do with helping make sure their child stays well hydrated during track season. He mentioned water and some Gatorade as helping with fluid replacement. “Cokes, energy drinks, and caffeine are discouraged,” he said, since they lead to dehydration instead of hydration. Eating well, especially carbohydrates and proteins on days prior to competition was emphasized. “A good diet is important,” he said. Having a good night’s sleep was emphasized as well by Peacock as crucial to proper recovery.
The first junior high meet will be the 25th of March in Dexter, followed by the first high school meet in Dexter on the 28th. In a recent phone interview, Peacock said having their first meets right after Spring Break presents a bit of a challenge, but he says, “Once we start running, it’s going to be, you know, pretty fast and steady for several weeks there.”
Assistant coaches for Jal High School Track and Field this season include Coach Brent Satterwhite on the high jump, throwers, and hurdles, Coach Bubba Ross on throwing events, Coach Victor Soliz on pole vault and junior high boys’ coach, Coach Sasha Navarette on long jump, triple jump, and junior high girls, and Coach Kami Satterwhite with distance runners.
