Track team competes in mock-meet

The track team started its season with a meet on March 4, the Falcon Invitational, but the athletes did not compete against another school. Instead, they went against themselves.

“The mock meet is practice to get us ready for the regular meets this season,” said the head coach Archie Ljepava, who is coaching long and triple jump. “It also lets us evaluate athletes in a competitive manner.”

In the boys’ division, senior Trevor Teerlink is the team’s top sprinter being coached by Michael Xiatry.

Seniors Andy Johnson and Eric Chuang are the top long and triple jumpers being coached by Ljepava.

Johnson jumped 20 feet and 40 feet last year in the long and triple jump, respectively. This year he said he hopes to jump a foot farther in long jump and two feet more in triple jump.

Chuang also wants to break his last year’s long jump personal record by a foot. Along with long and triple jump, Chuang is running the four by one relay, and the hundred meter sprint, but primarily as training for the jumping events.

The event produced mixed results. Some of the athletes, mostly those who have experience, did not think the mock meet was as useful as the coaches did.

Along with the mock meet, Ljepava is trying to introduce many new team activities, especially those that help with team bonding. He is hoping to add the pole vaulter to the team, have team dinners, and hold a couple of car washes for fundraising.