By P. Erik Meyer ’14
THE ROUNDUP
The track and field team has set a number of state and school records thus far this season.
Cole Walsh ’13 set the school record in the pole vault, Devon Allen ’13 set the state record in the 110m hurdles and the 4x400m relay team set a school record.
The squad is not only setting records, but is also performing consistently in the top five in the state.
“We’ve had a great season so far, we right now, with just a few weeks to go, have the second best sprint times in the state in the 100m, 200m and 400m, and the best hurdle times in the state with the 110m hurdles and the 300m hurdles,” Mr. Kalkman said. “In the 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay we are the best in the state and in the 4x800m we are top five in the state as well. With distance, Jack Rebenzer ’13 in the 800m is top five in the state, and Marco Ruiz ’13, running the two mile, is top five in the state. In pole vault, Cole Walsh is second best in the state.”
The track and field coach also said the team has depth on the roster.
“As a team, we’ve had our deepest team ever here at Brophy, starting with a bunch of guys interested, with more than 150 guys,” Mr. Kalkman said.
Mr. Kalkman also said that he was pleased with the performance of the freshmen team, who placed third in the Freshmen Showcase April 20.
Early in the season the team faced some adversity with injuries to top performers.
“It started off a little rough, Devon sprained an ankle, Clarence (Clark ’13) was out with soccer, Marco broke his toe. So really it was me, Cole Walsh and a couple other kids carrying the team in the meets,” said sprinter Bobby Grant ’14. “Since then all the kids have come back and we’ve come on pretty strong.”
Despite the early obstacles Mr. Kalkman was pleased with his team’s performance.
“Going back to the attitude of most of our guys, we have not had any issues come up in any of our categories,” Mr. Kalkman said. “The throwers have been a really good group, the pole vaulters and the jumpers.”
Recently, the team traveled to Sacramento, Calif. to participate in the Mount Sac Invitational over the weekend of April 19.
“We placed third at Mount Sac out of about 400 teams from all across the country, it’s a pretty big meet,” Grant said. “We’re looking pretty good right now as a team and were scaring a lot of teams out there with how much talent we have.”
With the state championship around the corner, the team has not lost focus despite the end of the school year in sight, Mr. Kalkman said.
“The work ethic of the seniors and the maintained consistent enthusiasm throughout the senior class. Spring sport of their senior year, when a lot of other things are being blown off, their concentration has been really good,” Mr. Kalkman said. “It’s hard for seniors to really follow through with a spring sport. Everyone else is checking out, but they can’t check out for another three weeks.”
To prepare for the race, Grant said, “Mentally preparing, I have all the physical attributes to help me do well in the meet. I need to figure out how to run in my own lane and run my own race instead trying of race everyone else.”
On May 8 and 11, the state track and field meet will commence at Mesa Community College.
“There are about five top Division I schools in track and field that all can all have a great day on Saturday May 11 to win it, and we are one of the five,” Mr. Kalkman said. “You’ve got to show up and race at the state meet, and again there are five teams that have a lot of athletes and a lot of events. That’s how the state track meet works.”
