1. You've Coached Jeneba Tarmoh and Vasthi Thomas, Both Two Time State Champions in their events. With Mt Pleasant having a rich tradition of success in track & field what does it mean to be a Cardinal?
Right now Id say that were all pretty proud of our alumni and their accomplishments. Our kids in our track Club (Cardinal T.C.) really take pride in knowing our history and working on establishing another chapter. We have a pretty tight knit group that look out for each other both in the classroom and out. Kids in the Cardinal Track club are thinking about going to college first. Our teachers at M.P. know the track kids have had more opportunities to go to college and I believe that they (the teachers) look out for our kids when they may be going astray. Our older kids look out for the younger ones. Right now I’m pretty proud of all of them because all of them have college plans. Plans may change but all have plans.
2. Where are the Cardinals right now in the winter training for the sprinters and jumpers?
Well were just finishing a 4 week speed phase with an active rest week taking place the 1st week of Christmas vacation. Our fall Oct/Nov consisted of 2 max strength phases where our emphasis was gaining Power/strength. Weight room/Plyos ECT. That we will be able to use in the winter/spring.
3. What is the general conditioning phase for the short and long sprinters as we enter December?
We really don’t have a general conditioning phase. In fact I don’t really worry about what kind of condition my athletes are in the fall. Our emphasis is gaining power and strength. At this stage of development (High school) our athletes especially the girls are trying to get physically strong enough to biomechanically be able to adapt to new stimuli that they weren’t able to perform or achieve last year. If we can develop on those fronts well be fine in the winter and spring.
4. How often are the jumpers getting into the pit and other aspects of their events?
The kids in the Horizontal jumps have done tech work once a week for the last 3 weeks. The vault kids went once a week during Oct/Nov and now twice a week over the last 3 weeks. We have done lots of bounding and plyos all fall some into sand. I’m only counting real jump tech days.
5. How much time does each athlete dedicate themselves in the weight room? What are some of the exercises that you find most beneficial to them at this time of year?
Our kids spend lots of time in the weight room year round. This is the key to success in all power sports especially girls. We spend 2 days a week in the fall predominantly doing Olympic lifting. The lifting we do know is the same lifting we do year round.
6. How important is the weight room and other non-track exercises to your athletes as they prepare for the indoor season?
The weight room is everything. The application of the weight room at this stage of development will make or break athletes in every sport. Why do you think De La Salle is so good in football? The weight room is not only a fall tool it must be applied all year if development is to occur (in High school).
7. the Fall and Winter is a great time for each group to get together and know each other, especially for the freshman and any transfers. Who are some of the new faces that could make an impact this season and how have they done so far this fall-Winter for you?
On the girls side we have 3 new faces that join an already good group of returners. Cydney Leath (former LSI runner) is a freshman who is making a fantastic transition to hurdling and jumping after being a 12.73 sprinter in her youth program. Silver Creek transfer Stefany Butler(12) sat out 2008 and will move to the 400 meters after being a sprinter at her former school. Our big find has been Shanique Walker (10).She tested very well in our school track P.E. unit last year. I tried to get her out for track in 08 but she was a little shy as a freshmen having never participated in a sport. She has been out for our club team all fall and I really think she'll be a state ranked hurdler/jumper before she graduates. On The boys side Madera H.S. Transfer Albert Bolden (12) along with veteran Victor Martinez (12) have emerged as sub 11 second 100 meter prospects.
8. from your experience, how hard is the transition from Middle school to High School for incoming freshman?
The transfer from Jr. to High school is a big deal for all kids even without sports being part of the picture. Kids who are more focused obviously have a huge advantage. Freshmen will associate with different clicks and people depending on there interest, background and preconceived notions on what High school are all about. I usually don't try to get freshmen involved in our club unless their pretty grounded and willing to put in time. Most freshmen aren’t ready to dedicate 4/5 days a week to training in the fall. I usually wait till track tryouts in February to recruit the majority of the new kids. I did try to Get Jeneba and Vashti early. They both played Volleyball as freshmen but came out for our club after thanksgiving of there freshmen year.
9. What are your general guidelines and expectations of your athletes during winter break? What type of workouts do you expect them to run?
I give our sprint/Jump/Hurdle kids the 1st week of vacation completely off. I encourage them to be active. But we’ve had a tough fall and the regeneration is very important. We will get back to club practice the 2nd week of vacation as we will soon be in the 1st stage of our winter competitive season.
10. Coming off a successful season which saw Senior Graduate and Texas A&M Freshman Vasthi Thomas win her 2nd consecutive 100H championship. With the pressure to perform well how do you plan your athletes to endure the expectations?
Vashti was an exceptional athlete that doesn’t come along everyday. What she did as do all of our athletes was develop. We feel it is very important for each athlete (once they understand goal setting) to have a roadmap as to what their goals are and how they can achieve them. Going to certain meets because those meets are fun is secondary to reaching our goals at the end of the season. Athletes without any expectations (either academic or athletic) need to be exposed, encouraged and engaged. Those athletes (or parents) that have the pie in the sky goals need to be made aware of the science behind there abilities and steered to more realistic goals that are more achievable. If an athlete doesn’t buy in to this they will not enjoy track and field because they will never think they are good enough. Training age is a huge factor in this extrapolation on talent. We are big Toney Wells(Colorado Flyer) followers so we test our athletes .Our kids have a good Idea of what their realistic goals are and what they must do to achieve their goals. This doesn’t mean going to too many meets. Or always doing the same events. All things will come if we train scientifically, rest and regenerate and focus on performing at the end of the season.
Interview Courtesy of Coach Hill
