Track Season...

Middle school track season was complicated this year. First they had a shortened track season, next Walker's school, Franklin was the only school with a track that did not have any structural problems this year. To accommodate all the students participating in track they held all field events at your local school and then all running events were held at Franklin the next day. We never got to see him actually compete against other students from the other middle schools. They just took everyone's scores and then produced a list the next day to show how they compared.

Walker's original plan was to do long jump, 100m dash, a thrower relay, shot put and discus but he ended up just choosing to do what he was most comfortable with... shot put and discus. After the first meet he figured out where he stood compared to other 8th graders and actually decided to put in extra work to improve. He borrowed a shot put from school (we already had a discus) and went over to the field by the house and would throw until dark. He also stayed later at track practices to get more throwing time in and during PE he was also allowed to go and throw in the pits.

He definitely saw results with the extra practicing. He started shot put throwing 29 ft 4 in. The next meet he went to 31 ft 11 3/4 in. Then the last meet which included all students from the 4 middle schools he threw 36 ft 4 3/4 inches which gave him 3rd place in the city.

In discus he started out the season throwing all scratches. The next meet he threw 86 ft 5 inches and then in the city meet he threw 89 ft which again gave him 3rd in the city.

Really hoping he gets some good coaching in High school next year and can succeed further now that he's had a taste of what putting in extra practices does!

Ainsley's track season was a big flop. She had joined winter track to help her stay in shape and be prepared for the spring season but by the time normal track came she was suffering from extreme shin splints... and the practices were super intense... her school work increased while grades decreased... choir became more of a focus and she just couldn't do it all. We paid a lot of money to have a really expensive track uniform to take pictures in... I guess there is next year!?!