A few minutes before the bell rings at 2:30 p.m., the vast fields at South Whidbey High School are empty.
Not for long. On any given spring afternoon, Waterman Field is soon jumping as the boys and girls track teams begin their workouts. In the distance, the baseball and softball teams are warming up, while across the parking lot every tennis court is humming with activity.
This spring season, more than 40 athletes tried out for the various events on the track-and-field menu offered at the school — boys and girls teams are divided into running, jumping and throwing events.
Sprints include the 100-, 200- and 400-meter runs, 100-, 110- and 300-meter hurdles, 400-, 800- and 1,600-meter relays and middle distance events. Jumping competition include the long jump, triple jump, high jump and pole vault. The throwers have their choice of discus, shot and javelin.
Each athlete can participate in a maximum of four events.
Now in his 22nd track season (14 years at South Whidbey), Falcon coach Doug Fulton found the energy level the highest he’s seen in years.
“These kids show great promise in a variety of events,” he said. “Senior Jon Poolman has recovered fully from last year’s hamstring problems and has a serious shot at qualifying for state in the dash and relay events.”
Fulton said Andy Bennett in jumps and the 300-meter hurdles has a likely state bid, as does Jackson Engstrom in the shot put.
“Will Hallberg in the triple and long jump and distance-runner Sam Lee have great potential, too,” Fulton added. “It’s a strong group with a great attitude.”
Lee agrees with that assessment.
“Our team is small, but we’ve got a lock on competitive attitude,” he said. “I like the distance runs because I have the drive to beat the pack. It’s mind over matter; the brain has to tell the body it isn’t tired.”
His strategy this year will be to stay with the leaders and sit on someone’s shoulder — “drafting” is the tech term — then kick it in for a sprint to the finish.
On the girls team, Laura Barrow in the hurdles and jumper Cayla Calderwood have high expectations. McKenzie Walker hopes to three-peat as state champion in the 400-meter relay and Emily Martin, recovered from an injury in the fall, will challenge the league’s best runners.
Freshmen Lillianna Stelling and Angelina Berger are hoping to shine in the pole vault and discus.
Berger likes to throw.
“I’m learning a lot about the rotation and how to make the discus fly smooth and far,” she said. “It’s all about keeping your fingers flat and straight at the time of release.”
Kelsey Engstrom also throws discus, but prefers the 8.8-pound shot put; 35 feet is her farthest throw.
“You get to see exactly with each throw just how far it goes,” she explained.
Fulton can’t do it all, and credits his volunteer coaching staff. “If it weren’t for the volunteer coaches we’d be up a creek without a paddle,” he said. “They give our kids the attention and instruction they need to be successful.
Among them are the school’s former 800-meter record holder Dean Hatt and 110-meter high hurdles record holder Chad Felgar. Craig Stelling is a former Falcon javelin thrower and All-American at Pacific Lutheran University. Mark Eager is helping guide sprinters and Jeff Greene is working with throwers.
