While
most people may think a track is a given for a track team, this is a recent
occurrence for Marian.
This
is the first full track season that the track has been in use. Over the past 10-15 years, the
administration has been planning the construction project. The plan was put into action a few
years ago with the help of several private donations from the Marian community. The Servants of Mary made the land
itself available to the school.
After two years of development, the last bricks were laid in the spring
of 2003.
Before
the age of the track, the team had to use the Marian driveway or borrow time
from another schoolıs track.
Because of the safety issues involved with driveway traffic and the risk
of injuries from the hard pavement, a track was necessary.
The
track is made out of crushed-brick.
When the last brick went down a year ago, the track was so loose that it
was rather ineffective and was deemed ³the beach² by the track team. Because of the nature of the surface,
the track needed time to settle.
Mr.
Miller said, ³We wanted to make sure we had plenty of rock on it [the track].²
If the amount would have been insufficient, over time, the track would have
developed holes in the surface.
Now that the weather has packed the bricks down, it will be easier for
the track team to push-off the ground and reach top speed.
The
crushed-brick surface was chosen for its cost-effectiveness. As Head of School Miss Elizabeth Kish
says, ³Itıs certainly not the same as Burke.² Burke is arguably Omahaıs premier
track and field facility. It is
home to the State Track Meet every year in May, and has even been the host to
many national competitions.
According
to Athletic Director Mr. Jim Miller, a rubber surface track was too expensive,
and an asphalt surface was evaluated as too hard a surface to run on without
injury. Creighton Prep Athletic
Department personnel advised Mr. Miller that the crushed-brick surface has been
working for them for several years.
As
it is now, some team members benefit more than others from the crushed-brick
surface. For long-distance
runners, the loose surface strengthens leg muscles and builds endurance.
While
this might also hold true for sprinters, track Coach Mr. Josh Hill said, ³You
canıt reach maximum velocity.²
Therefore, sprinters are unable to train properly on the surface.
Freshman
Emma Drews says, ³When people are running in front of you, they kick rocks
towards you.² Because of these
consequences, the sprinters have had to rely on the driveway asphalt surface
for some workouts.
Not
only do the sprinters have to compromise, but field event participants have not
received adequate benefits either.
Discus throwers must rely on the softball fields because of the lack of
a discus ring, and pole vaulters must practice at UNOıs facilities to properly
train and be prepared for competition.
Although
it is hard to accommodate everyone, running on the concrete is precisely what
the administration wanted to get away from. Mr. Miller explained, ³Theyıre supposed to be down on the
track even if they donıt like running on it.²
Trainer
Melissa Brusnahan said she has not seen an increase in injuries from the loose
surface, but some of the team members might disagree with that. Sprinter and thrower, freshman Katrina
Puszewski said, ³We need a trackı track because it [the track now] gives you
shin splints and knee-aches.²
While
the negative aspects of the track are prominent factors for some of the team
members, others have a positive outlook.
Track Head Coach Ronda Motykowski said, ³We are using it more than last
year.²
Sophomore
Erin Kinsella said, ³There are positives and negatives, but overall the
positives outweigh the negatives.
Positives being strengthening ankles and making you faster.²
While
the track may seem like a great stepping-stone for the track teamıs success, it
is just a stepping-stone. The
track still needs time to settle before it will benefit all of its runners.