Indoor Track Team Makes Big Strides

You wouldn't think dodging snow drifts in the Simsbury High School parking lot would be an optimal training method for any sports team. But that is where the indoor track team spent most of its practice time this season.

Like most schools in Connecticut, indoor facilities in Simsbury are taken up by sports like wrestling and basketball. Not one to complain about these limitations, coach Mike Cohen actually gave some credit, "the one thing I can say is that whoever is (plowing) the parking lot is doing a great job."

Despite these limitations the Trojans worked hard this season, just their second as a varsity sport, and the hard work paid off. The boys took 2nd place in the Central Connecticut Conference championships and 12th in the Class LL state meet. The girls meanwhile were 8th in the conference meet and 6th in the states. Cohen said he was "very pleased with the boys and girls results." He even hinted that the lack of facilities may have been a help, "the kids have persevered ... to a certain extent it has hardened them ... the distance runners love it."

The growth of the program has been organic. It started with a couple of runners from the cross country and outdoor track teams asking Cohen if he would be their advisor if they formed a club to run some winter events back in 2006. Word got around, according to Cohen, and "at the first meeting 25 kids showed up."  

This year's team is a mix of cross country and outdoor track athletes as well as standouts in other sports. Team captain Josh Helmkamp was a captain and  running back on the football team. Josh Gowdy was also a gridiron contributor. Julia Levesque started on the girls varsity soccer team.

Levesque led the way for the girls whose 6th place finish in the Class LL meet was especially impressive because she was one of only five girls that earned points for Simsbury, which is a reflection of the difficulty in qualifying for these meets. Levesque was certainly the most consistent performer for the girls, if not the entire the track team, as she medaled in the 55 meter hurdles in the CCC meet, the Class LL state meet, and the open state meet.

For the boys it was likely Merritt Gasho who was a force in the 600 meter run. He medaled in that event in the conference championships, and was well on his way to a podium finish in the Class LL state event, but committed a lane violation and was disqualified. This was extremely costly to both Gasho and the team as the Trojans missed out on precious points that would have improved their team result from 12th to 7th. Not to mention the fact that he missed out on an opportunity to run in the state open meet.

Cohen did not take issue with his runner or the umpires ruling, saying "I am not quibbling over his DQ nor am I blaming him." Cohen said that the violation would not have been called at most meets because it would not have been seen. "There are more umpires (at the Class LL meet.)" But there is no question in his mind that it was a violation.   

As strong as Gasho is in the 600 it was what he did after getting disqualified that impressed his coach the most. He had to set aside the heart-breaking disappointment and run two relays. "He got his head back in gear ... it was a tribute to him to run the races the way he did ... I was extremely pleased with his performance." 

After just two seasons coach Cohen knows the future for Simsbury indoor track is bright, despite losing captains Danielle Robbins and Helmkamp, along with Levesque, Gasho, Gowdy and others to graduation. Tory Schuler who finished 3rd in the Class LL 1000 meter run, is a junior. Jada Jenkins and Kolu Wynne, who helped the 4 x 200 relay team to a 2nd place finish in that meet, are both just freshmen. Kevin Stanko who anchored both 4 x 800 and sprint medley relay teams to 5th place finishes in the Class LL meet is a junior as is 1,600 meter standout Joel Kirk. Pole vaulters Levi Lilly and Chandler Ives are just sophomores. And shot putter Alex Kern is a junior. 

It is not just their age, it is their passion according to Cohen, "the kids love the sport ... they love to compete ... they have done everything I have asked them to do." And next year he'll likely ask for more and his athletes are sure to respond.