The track and field season has just started and with that comes a new season of highs and lows. Consisting of events in running, jumping and baton throwing, the sport requires keeping athletes accountable. The program is dedicated to improving and excelling as an athlete and as an individual. In addition to practicing for meets, athletes need to show enthusiasm and a willingness to compete and improve as the season progresses.
Coach Tigue takes the lead on coaching and motivating students for the upcoming meets. Every season, he looks for certain qualities in athletes for the varsity and junior varsity team, like student-athletes who come to practice ready and are willing to put in effort during conditioning and practice.
“I want to get kids to where they are genuinely interested in improving in track and being track athletes rather than having kids get out there just to do something,” Tigue stated. “I want students who are willing to work hard and willing to do the small things to improve.”
With over 200 athletes in the program, the coaches have to tackle burnout and consistency with athletes in performance. Looking for weaknesses and where athletes could perform better is crucial to the success of the team.
“We make sure that every athlete on our team, we have 200 people, is held accountable for what they’re doing,” Tigue stated. “Externally, obviously, we have a very competitive region that we want to do really well…”
For freshmen and newcomers, this sport is a chance to make new friends and be part of the Lambert sports community. The roster consists of students from all grades, with freshmen who tryout typically making junior varsity. Freshman Sanvi Patel described how she found her place through the connections she built.
“They’ve been so welcoming, and I’ve really appreciated having other girls help me out,” Patel stated. “There aren’t many freshman throwers, so I’m really grateful for the upperclassmen here.”
While the team focuses on sportsmanship and improvement, Tigue also evaluates how competitive the team can be and how Lambert’s program compares to those of the surrounding schools. There are 10 meets before eventually reaching the regionals, sectionals and the state meet.
“We have around 18 individual events, and then there are four relay events, so we enter our athletes in the individual events,” Tigue stated. “If they are first, second or third, they get 10 points, eight points or six points and then whoever gets the most points at the end of the meet wins the meet.”
This year, Tigue wants as many athletes as possible to qualify and participate in the state meet held at the University of Georgia track. To qualify, athletes must place in the sectional meet and fulfill the minimum requirements. Placing and passing the prerequisites requires the athletes to place better and exceed expectations.
With the start of the season already here, the Lambert High School Track and Field Program tackles the upcoming meets and hurdles. As coaches step up to maintain consistency and athletes improve performance during practice and conditioning, Lambert wishes them good luck!
