Indoor 2014 -15 Early Thoughts

Here we are again ready to start a new season.  We've been slowly training and breaking ourselves in. We're here now on our second meet of the season at Loyola Prep. It's a low key optional meet for those just coming off FB. Most of the team will debut next week at PG County sports complex.

90%+ of our team members are multi sport athletes so fitting in the end of one season and the beginning of another is our biggest challenge as a staff. The team has been running since what feels like Freshman year. 

Our Athlete's schedule is a bit something like this:

Football -> Indoor T&F -> FB Combines-> Outdoor T &F-> Spring Football Training-> AAU Basketball ->Outdoor T&F Championship Season-> Football 7 on 7 -> Summer T&F workouts -> Football

Somewhere in there they are supposed to rest and go to school. So we take Indoor a bit easy. Student-Athletes,  right?

In other news we've got a new addition to the staff Coach Corwin "Pop" Acker. Coach Pop has been invaluable to the program. He began last outdoor season and his impact was immediate.  He is well versed in  sprint relay and was instrumental in ensuring the team was ready to clinch the title last outdoor season. He also coaches on the Varsity FB staff so he is familiar with the team already. So we're excited he's with the team indoors.

Penn Relays was outstandng!

Did you ever wake up as a coach and say...OK what will I do different next season? What can I correct for this season? What is just awesome and I should keep doing? Penn Relays is just awesome. We will do this every year as long as I am coaching. It is such a rush of excitement and competition and networking.

The team gets to be on the biggest stage in track and field besides the olympics

St. Frances 400-meter relay team Wins GOLD @ MIAA track finals 5/10/14 - 42.98 FAT

US Elite Juniors Track and Field Camp Starts Monday May 19th

US Elite Juniors Summer Track Camp Starts May 19th!
Coaches, It's summer track time again! US Elite Juniors is in it's second year of operation, and we are excited! We are a speed focused sprints/jumps/hurdles club again this year.

When: Practice Starts May 19th (then every M,W,Th)
Where: Coppin State University
Time: 6 - 730pm

Here is what is on the table, in addition to some great meets, good travel, and FUN.

800/1500 meter runners wanting to work on their speed: I have tapped into some stellar resources (Here is a hint...4 of 6 Penn Relays CoA Distance titles this year) and we will hold 1 middle distance speed clinic this summer.

We have teamed up with our OD parent club (US Elite Int'l Track and Field) to offer a professional speed clinic this year, taught by recent Olympians and US National Qualifiers.

Weight Room - Overall Strength & Speed/Power specific lifting
If your kids join US Elite Juniors, the speed clinic is FREE with their membership. BUT they can come to the clinics a la carte and still run for their home club if they are not ready to make the switch.

We meet Monday, Wednesday ,Thursday @ Coppin State University 6:00 - 730 PM. Hope to see your kids there!

For further information:
mrobinson@uselite.org
stfrancestrack@gmail.com

http://uselitetrackandfield.blogspot.com

phone: 410-929-1369
Thank you all for a wonderful season, and see you around the track.

Panthers Gold 4x100m Relay PR @ McNamara Mustangs Invite!

What an exciting weekend for Panthers Gold 4x100m Relay Team! The McManara Mustangs Invitational took place on 4/19/14 and it was worth the wait for nice weather.
The meet was our big pre Penn Relays tune up, we showed up to compete. We were a last minute entry (Thank You Bishop McNamara meet staff, and to the timer Benard) so we had heat 2 lane 1, with no competition but the clock.

Malik Christian has been a steady lead off leg this season he took the turn like a pro in 11.0 flat to the ~10.7 seconds Devin Phelps. Phelps is a new member of the squad and he is cutting his teeth on some fast times and big meets. His strategy is calm and collected at all times, you will never see him look anything but poised before a race. He unleashes all anxiety on the track and puts it into his race, and what a race it was against the clock handing off to Kareem Felder with a nice ~10.8+ en route. Always a treat to watch Felder move the baton, he is a tenacious runner with only years ahead of him to perfect his individual style. Felder (a sophomore in his 2nd year on the 4x100m), he passed the baton to our veteran member of Panthers Gold, who is only a Junior (YESSSS!!), Maurice Williams. Williams is so light that he floats when he runs. No really, we never see his feet hit the ground we just know the laws of physics says he must be hitting the ground. He pulled into the finish line with nothing but a clock to run for and a split of ~10.8. Our panthers ran against time and won and were ready for Penn Relays!

It should be noted, there was one more competition at stake for this team while running. If they broke the 43 sec barrier on that run they would be treated to Miss Shirley's. They ran 43.37 FAT (with no competition)...guess where we are going on May 18th?

First Meet Jitters Are Behind Us

Ok, so we came we saw...maybe we did not conquer in the way we all hoped, but we are glad that we got the first meet jitters out of the way.
We had a serious looking Panthers Gold relay...but we may need to get a little more serious.

We tried a Sprint MR this week too. I need to focus a bit on my 800m runner, he put it all on the track, but I think i left something out in practice...pace.

The ladies got out there are gave it a first try, and I am SO HAPPY for them. Much love to Crystal, Lee, Faith, and Kayla for working the 4x100m this past weekend.

And the throwers placed 4th by 1 inch in the shot put relay, not too bad for some athletes that never touched a shot put.

All in all, I'm proud of SFA Panthers Track and Field and ecstatic about the 2014 season.

Throwers Need Love ( and shoes) Too

Here is a great deal on throwing shoes with VS athletics

http://www.vsathletics.com/store/Throwing-Shoes/

Spikes and Running Shoes on a Budget

We all know things add up in high school sports. Travel, Equipment, Medical Bills (Yikes). To ease the blow to the pockets: Joe's New Balance outlet has some great deals on spikes and running shoes.

www.joesnewbalanceoutlet.com/cat_mens_shoes.htm?category=mrun&subcat=comps&sort=POP&size=&width=&shoeLast=&price=

Panthers T&F Outdoor 2014 Spring Schedule

Panthers T& F 2014 Outdoor Season Schedule

Hi Everyone!! We have our schedule and I thought I would share it with you. We are looking to see some good competition for our Panthers Black and Panther Gold Relays teams this season. Note, weekend meets are by invitation only, and will be marked as Confirmed or Tentative as the season progresses.

Loyola Relays CONFIRMED
Loyola Blakefield HS, Towson
Saturday March 22, 2014
8:00 AM Departure from SFA

MIAA/IAAM League Meet #1 @ McDonough
Thursday March 27, 2014
1:45 PM Departure from SFA

Early Bird Invitational CONFIRMED
Coppin State university, Baltimore
Saturday March 29, 2014
8:00 AM Departure from SFA

MIAA/IAAM League Meet #2 @ John Carroll
Tuesday April 1, 2014
1:45 PM Departure from SFA

Woodward Relays CONFIRMED
Georgetown Prep, North Bethesda
Saturday April 12, 2014
6:30 AM Departure From SFA

MIAA/IAAM League Meet #3 @ John Carroll, Bel Air MD
Wednesday April 16, 2014
1:15 PM Departure from SFA

McNamara Mustangs Invitational CONFIRMED
Bishop McNamara HS, Forrestville (District Heights), MD
Saturday April 19, 2014
8:00 AM Departure from SFA

MIAA/IAAM League Meet #4 @ Gilman
Wednesday April 23, 2014
1:30 PM Departure from SFA

Penn Relays CONFIRMED
U of Penn, Philadelphia, PA
Thurs Apr 24 - Sat Apr 26 2014
5:15 AM Departure from SFA, Thurs Apr 24

Patriot Games @ John Carroll (MIAA/IAAM B Conference Championships)
Tuesday April 29, 2014
1:15 PM Departure from SFA

Clash of the Titans Invitational - CANCELED - Due to SAT
New Town High School, Owings Mills MD
Sat May 3, 2014
8:00 AM Departure From SFA

MIAA / IAAM Championships (A & B Conf. Championships)
McDonough School (Wed), Archbishop Spalding (Sat)
Wed May 7 & Sat May 10 2014
Noon Departure - Wed, 8:00 AM Departure - Sat

New Balance Outdoor Nationals
North Carolina A&T, Greensboro NC
Fri - Sun June 13 - 15
Noon Departure from SFA, Thurdsay June 13