Titan track kicks into the 2011 season

Youth movement in the ranks

Despite slush in biblical proportions and sink holes swallowing small children whole, the Crested Butte Titan track team is in the midst of preparing for the 2011 track season.
They started workouts on February 28 getting in key early season training wherever they can.
“We’re running on the streets that have been plowed, using the gym, using the hallways,” says head track coach Laura Puckett.
But that’s nothing new.
What is new is the numbers, both on the coaching staff and the roster this year, as well as the attitude.
It’s Puckett’s third year at the helm of the team and she has middle and distance running specialist Dustin Simoens back for his third year as well.
Zach Pirraglia is back for his second year to add his expertise in sprints and relays. To help bolster the coaching staff and add in some field event coaching Puckett has called on a number of other local athletes to join the ranks.
Kristen Hoogheem ran for CU Boulder and will be helping out Simoens with the distance runners. Furthermore, Puckett is bringing in Chelsea Murray, a heptathlete from Western State College, and Jordan Cooper to further enforce a wealth of far-reaching track knowledge that will coach middle school and volunteer at the high school level.
“There are so many events and specialties, and we are trying to build up our field events and our hurdles as well as having a strong running core in our program,” says Puckett. “Last year we started working on our sprints and now it’s time to reach out one more tendril.”
With the Nordic athletes and hockey players finishing up their season this past week, Puckett now has 26 Titans on her roster, up from 16 last year. That includes a grand total of eight boys on the team.
“That’s four times as many as last year,” quips Puckett.
Eight of her tracksters are returning upperclassmen with seniors Karleigh Dean, Tanner Gordon, Jena D’Aquila and Madeline Malzhan leading the charge.
“Tanner is so motivated,” says Puckett. “He’s fired up this year.”
In each of her seasons as coach Puckett looks to get a bit more out of her athletes, and this year she is starting to see them respond.
“Every year we’re trying to raise the bar higher and we feel like it’s already higher,” says Puckett. “The whole team seems to have raised the bar.”
Last weekend, Puckett took 12 athletes to a track scrimmage, the Montrose Icicle Invitational and got a glimpse into what her athletes are bringing this year.
“The energy and effort was really high,” says Puckett. “Some are running as fast now as they were in the middle of last season.”
Puckett and her coaching staff are continuing with an early workout regimen as they prepare for the first official meet of the season, the Montrose Invitational on Saturday, March 19.
“We’ve got a good routine set focusing on strength and flexibility and building up our base,” says Puckett. “People are working hard and it seems like they are committed.”