Track & Field - season 1

This was the first season both girls ran with the Central City Cheetahs track club.  It was such a great experience for all of us.  The team practices three nights a week for only four weeks in the summer, with a couple of meets against the 10 other track clubs in the county.  It is so awesome to see the number of kids and coaches out there each evening. The CCC coaches - especially Coach RoTo and Coach Cal - are so committed to these kids and to the track team in general.  As the kids practiced, steve and I took the opportunity to have our own workout around the track.  This was a highlight of our summer. 

Elizabeth, Age 6

Lizzie's age group (6-8 years) is not timed, but gets to compete in all meets and participate in all practices.  Overall, she was not the fastest and I saw plenty of skipping and cartwheels during practice (but thankfully never at a meet).  However, she can also be a very determined and focused little athlete, practicing something until she gets it just right. She originally said that she was going to focus on the 800m race.  She then realized that was pretty hard for her, so so she scaled back and focused on the 400m as "her" race.  I am not sure why she chose those over the short sprints which are probably easier for her age group, but once she gets something in her head, you cannot change her mind.  So, being committed to doing the 400 and 800, there were practices that she went with the distance team, who are all a lot older than her.  After one really hot practice where she ran with the older distance athletes this whole time, a kid came up and said to us, "I haven't seen anything like her - she is so little and she just keeps running!"  She has already said that she wants to do cross country in the fall.

My favorite photo of her is the animation below where she is looking all around.  At the end of this race, Carolyn said she would do a lot better if her head weren't bobbing all around.  Then, when she ran the 400 at the same meet, she stopped and waited for a teammate at one point.  At the end of that race,  Carolyn asked her at the end if she knew she was allowed to pass people.  She said, "I wanted to run with her."       

Carolyn, Age 10

Carolyn runs in the red group with the 9-10 year olds.  This is the first age group that is timed. It is fun to watch these kids because they are all pushing themselves so hard and learning how to be athletes. And, by this age, you can begin to see the natural "stars" - those kids that are just so fast and smooth and kick it into a gear that you did not think was possible.  This season, Carolyn ran the 50 m (best time =9.2), 100 m (best time=15.8), 400 m (best time=1.30.7), and at the final meet of the season tried the 200m (best time=40.3). At one of the meets, Carolyn pulled out a 4th place finish (out of 52 girls in her age group) for her 100m sprint. I think as her body grows into her adult-sized feet (she wears a size 5/6 all of the sudden!) and as she gains more strength and endurance,she has real potential.  We will see if this becomes her sport.  

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We are so proud of both girls for committing to this team, attending every practice, and giving it their all!   I am pretty sure you will see the Altman girls running with the Cheetahs again next year.

CCC - How do you feel?