Greyhounds tracking title
by Kevin Barrett - Thursday, June 3, 2010
KâtÉ Braydon photo/Telegraph-Journal
This article is courtesy of Telegraph Journal
It's developed into an annual ritual since Mary Morrison, head coach of the Saint John Greyhounds track and field team, took over the program in 2002.Each spring, on the eve of the provincial championships, she assembles her troops in the gymnasium, near the banners adorning the wall, paying special attention to the one from 1988, recognizing the school's last New Brunswick Interscholastic Athletic Association track and field AAA title.
"I tell them to look up on the wall and I tell them we need another one," she explained as the squad goes through its final paces before Saturday's championship meet at CFB Gagetown in Oromocto.
It's an exercise in history, saluting former coaches, people such as Donalda (Donnie) Brownell and Walter Ellis, who helped to mould track and field excellence in the city.
It's also an exercise in motivation, showing her team that success is achievable for a program that sat closer to the bottom of the provincial pack than the top less than 10 years ago.
"It has been a slow, growing process," Morrison said of her first coaching strides.
"Back then, we were something like 38th out of 46 schools in the province."
But the required development took place and now Morrison is hopeful the school can recapture that 1988 glory, which reflected an era of excellence featuring quality athletes such as Rory Currie, Louanna Mooney and Trina Penny. In fact, Penny's sprint records of 12.24 seconds in the senior girls 100 metres and 25 seconds in the 200-m still stand in the NBIAA record book.
To assist, Morrison enlisted quality help in the form of coaches such as Calvin MacDonald, Sue Ellis Loparco and Dave Thomas. This year, Bill and Patti MacMackin have been joined by recent graduates Caleb Jones, Rachelle MacDonald and Mary Jane McAfee.
Jones set a provincial record in the javelin and shot put a year ago while MacDonald took three individual medals, including silver and bronze in sprints in 2009. McAfee was the school's most outstanding female athlete in 2008.
"I try to get the community involved," Morrison said. "Wherever we can get some help, that is what we do."
It's paying off. In 2006, Saint John finished 11th in the provincials and jumped to fifth in 2007 before earning runner-up positions to Fredericton in 2008 and 2009.
"It's been a group effort," Morrison said. "I have always tried to recruit both kids and outside people. We are quite hopeful but you can never tell because you have to have your athletes arrive on that day. They have to have as good a performance as they did at the regionals."
And that brings them to this Saturday, where 43 Greyhounds will unleash their speed and strength at the NBIAA championship meet.
If all goes well, Saint John could take home its first banner in 22 years.
"No one could be more excited than I am," said Morrison, a high jumper and sprinter during her high school days at St. Vincent's. "We are the strongest we have been in a long time and we can make it happen."
At last weekend's South-West regionals, eight Saint John athletes won at least one event.
Matt McNeil and Nick MacMackin raced to first-place results in three events while Alex Peabody earned two winning efforts. The other winners were Matt Doucet, Kate Robinson, Kelsey Duplessis, Ethan MacLeod, John Gormley and Kelsey Cormier.
Bill MacMackin, heavily involved with the Saint John Track Club as well, says commitment of the top athletes extends beyond the NBIAA calendar.
"When you look at the athletes from any school who have been successful, that is a part of the recipe," he said. "They take track and field seriously and they commit to some pretty serious training throughout the year."
Generally there are several big factors in securing a NBIAA title - top finishes by those favoured to produce and quality results by everyone on the squad.
"You need the depth but you also need the anchors, the ones who go into two or three events and take first or second," Morrison said, adding her optimism levels are fuelled because, "we were second last year with 33 kids who qualified. This year, we have 43."
The Greyhounds are not the only club with a chance to produce provincial champions.
Last weekend, athletes from the Southern Conference either won outright, or tied for first in 29 of the 55 events contested in the South-West regionals.
"The Saint John Track Club provides athletes to each of the high schools," she said. "I think of Mitch Quigg of Harbour View, Erin Kelly at St. Malachy's, Grace Annear at Hampton. They really are spread out."
Action starts Saturday at about 9:45 a.m.
Championship banners will be presented to the top schools in the AAA and AA classes.
TO THE FINAL: The hometown Oromocto Blues defeated the Belleisle Bears 20-0 in the AAA boys rugby semifinal Wednesday.
Oromocto scored three unconverted tries in the first half and added another late in the second to earn a berth in the provincial final Friday.
Xavier Richards, Brandon Legacy, Alex Gilbert and Greg Warr scored for the winners, who will travel to face the Miramichi Valley Pulamoo Friday, with kickoff slated for 5 p.m.
"It was a good game and we had our chances but at this level, you have to capitalize on your chances," said Belleisle coach Grant Beckingham.
Kevin Barrett is a sports reporter with the Telegraph-Journal. His Varsity View column appears each Thursday during the school athletic calendar. He can be reached at barrett.kevin@telegraphjournal.com.