MARCH 21 - TRACK PREVIEW

by Jeff Toquinto
Editor of The Bridgeport News

More than just starting the track season earlier than
usual will be different this year for Bridgeport High School.

When the season begins this afternoon, the
Indians boys and girls teams will do something they
haven’t done for at least 14 years - host a track
meet.
Thanks to a two-year project known as “Track to the
Future” that raised more than $200,000 for an
all-weather, six-lane track, BHS will have the luxury
of hosting meets for the 2002 season. The first of
those meets will be held at 4 p.m. today.
Although the coaches are excited, they're not sure how
to feel about the first meet on their new track.
"I don't know (how to feel) because we have not done
that yet. What I do know is it feels good to start the
season at home where our athletes practice everyday,"
said girls coach Jim Dawson.
Boys coach Jon Griffith said hosting meets is a good
thing. However, he said it comes with added
responsibility.
"It's awfully nice to be able to stay home. However,
there is a lot of work in putting together home
meets," said Griffith. "We want to do a first class
job and that requires a lot of preparation and time."
This afternoon teams from Buckhannon-Upshur, Grafton,
Preston, South Harrison and Notre Dame will all be in
attendance for the first meet at Wayne Jamison Field.
They'll get a preview of the track and the Indians'
new electronic scoring system.
If the track, the timing system and the meet
organization hold up, the coaches hope their teams can
as well.
"We are very excited to get the season going, but we
are a long way from being ready to compete," said
Griffith.
Because of the early time frame, Dawson is hoping to
simply evaluate his athletes instead of dominate the
competition.
"The only thing I want to get out of this first meet
is to evaluate my team's condition and what our
strengths and weaknesses are," said Dawson. "This meet
is early and gives every athlete a starting point for
the year."
Griffith pointed to Joe Ielapi, Chris Heater and Tim
Lindsey as individuals to be watched out for in their
respective events. Dawson, who has a bevy of
returnees, listed more than 20 athletes as capable of
making an impact this year, including state champion
Ali Moore.
Most important, said Dawson, is that both squads are
in good spirits. He said the new track has a lot to do
with it.
"The moral of all the athletes are at an all time
high," said Dawson, who noted that injuries have been
cut down on the new surface. "I think since the track
was completed in the fall every track athlete has been
anxious to start the season."