Track & Field Handbook
Attendance Notes
1 - Practice is Daily 3:20 to 5:15 (OTO 3:20)
2 - ALL athletes are expected to attend all scheduled practices/meets
3 - Athletes MUST be at Practice Day before a meet to be eligible (No EXCEPTIONS)
4 - ALL Absences MUST be approved prior to departure by Head Coach
5 - Academics BEFORE Athletics...see coaches for a plan if this is an issue
6 - Track TAKES PRIORITY over other School Sponsored & Non School Sponsored Extra-Curricular
Activities
7 - WORK is NOT an excuse to miss practice…please clear work schedule for participation in T&F
HS Track Order of Running events...
4x800-Meter Relay
100-Meter High Hurdles (Gals)
110-Meter High Hurdles (Guys)
100-Meter Dash
4x200-Meter Dash
1600-Meter Run
4x100-Meter Relay
400-Meter Dash
300-Meter Hurdles
800-Meter Run
200-Meter Dash
3200-Meter Run (Finals Only)
4x400 Meter Relay
*Note: above order is dictated by the MSHSL & will be the order used at ALL official MN Track events
HS Track "Field" Events...
Triple Jump
Long Jump
High Jump
Pole Vault
Discus
Shot Put
*Note: all above events listed are for BOTH Guys & Gals in the state of MN
HOW many events can my athlete compete in during a meet?
Great Question! 4 events total...no more than a total of 3 running or 3 field & this includes relay events within the 4 chosen events. AND Distance athletes cannot run more 2 events of 800 meters or longer in any given individual meet.
Ex/
Legal Jimmy = 100, 4X200, Long Jump, High Jump
Illegal Jimmy = Long Jump, Triple Jump, High Jump Shot Put
Legal Distance Suzy = 1600, 3200, Long Jump
Illegal Distance Suzy = 1600, 3200, 4x800
Track Spectator TOP 10
#1 - Track spectators/parents/friends are NOT allowed onto the track or inside the track oval during the duration of track meets...this also includes competition areas of field events.
#2 - Pack/dress in layers...MN Track Weather is finicky...meets can be long, windy, then sunny, then snow...repeat!
#3 - Speaking of Long, HS Track Meets are long...depending on how many teams and how efficiently an event is run...figure on 3 to 5 hours of "sit on the edge of your seat" entertainment.
#4 - Each individual running event takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes to complete ALL Heats...use this 15 minute rule when trying to figure out when you angel is going to run! (Timing of Field events is a bit tougher and is based on equipment available and rotations...best to text/call your athlete day of)
#5 - Admission Cost to Events?...its about a 50/50 chance you will need to pay in order to enter the track facility at events. Varsity Only/Invites/Sections/State ALL charge! Note: it is also nice to have a bit of cash on hand...they usually provide concessions & your leech (oops athlete) will probably come and try to haggle you out of all your $1 and $5s!
#6 - Can you talk with your athlete at a track meet? Of course, but we do ask that our athletes are left alone completely 30 min prior to their individual events. Yes - they can come off the track and chat or sit in bleachers with you at times, but ALL events require a lengthy/calculated Warm-UP process...please respect this 30 min!
#7 - Can you bring YOUR student home after they have completed ALL their events/relays? Of course...you own them! Buuut PLEASE check out with a Waconia coach prior to departing. AAaannnd we encourage athletes to travel with the team whenever possible, but we know these kids have MANY responsibilities outside of our organization!
#8 - Can you bring OTHER athletes home with you? (the ones you don't own) Yes and NO...ALL athletes that plan to travel home with a NON related parent/relative NEED to get prior approval through Jill Johnson prior to meet. (Jill Johnson is the Waconia Athletic Director)
#9 - Can I yell encouragement, scream from excitement and general be happy/freak out when my athletes is running or after a great attempt at a field event...Please Do! (we encourage excitement for our athletes & we LOVE the look on your kids face during these times of "parental embarrassment"!)
#10 - Wear Track Apparel, Purple Gold, Paint you face...please arrive and show off your support of our community, our team, and your athlete! (it is greatly appreciated by all)
How does an athlete Earn a Varsity Letter in Track?
This is a BIG DEAL...we have an entire section of this website that clearly breaks down ALL aspects of Track Lettering here in Waconia. Please click on the "Track Lettering" button in the Track drop down menu above!
Waconia Track Athlete Meet Prep
PERSONAL CHECKLIST
_____ - Running Shoes and Extra Socks
_____ - Racing Spikes (ALL athletes grades 7 - 12th and encouraged to race in spikes)
_____ - ALL Parts of the Team Uniform (top and bottoms)
_____ - Warm-Up “Longs” (be prepared for ALL weather conditions)
Clothing List: Warm Fleece Top, Windbreaker/Raincoat, Tights, Wind Pants, Extra Socks, Gloves/Mittens, Stocking Hat, extra T-Shirt
_____ - Packed Lunch (variety of fruit, crackers, nutrition bars, granola, sandwich)
_____ - Water Bottle (filled and sipping on bus ride)
_____ - Post Race Treat (reward yourself)
_____ - $$$ (You never know when the bus will stop at a DQ!)
_____ - Plastic Bag or Large Zip Lock for Wet & Sweaty Uniform Post Race
Note: Don’t leave your uniform in this bag and forget about it till next meet...you will NOT be happy
_____ - Blanket, Towel or Small tarp to sit on at Team Camp
**Tarp is great for wet conditions
_____ - Meet Goals Sheet is filled out and your personal race plan is set
Ex/ know your time "splits" and have an estimated finish time in head
ADDITIONAL ATHLETE INFO:
Daily Practice Schedule/Expectations…we practice EVERY day after school from 3:20 to 5:15pm. We ask that students clear their schedules for this time daily in order to be WITH their team and working with their coaches. Athletes are expected to be at ALL Mon - Fri Team events, whether it is practice or a meet. Saturday morning practices will be offered at times, but these are not considered MANDATORY, but we do suggest that our athletes take advantage of these extra times.
Keep Cell Phone use LIMITED upon arrival at race site...please put these devices AWAY during warm-ups, races & cool downs.
NO Cellular devices are EVER allowed within ANY Track Competition sites...you, you and your relay team, or you and your entire track team can be penalized and or disqualified by breaking this rule...this includes ear buds, head-phones, etc...don't do it!
ALL Waconia Track Athletes will be in Waconia Gear AT ALL times when boarding the bus for meets, at the meet site and on way home from meets WACONIA PRIDE...Note: these can advertise ANY Waconia Sport, we just want TONS Of Purple and Gold, Wildcat, Waconia Distance advertising (no street clothes...we are here to compete)
Pre-Race...WARM UPS ON at ALL TIMES prior to Racing and during your Cool Down...we will always have a clothes basket and manager at start lines to help transport/watch over warm-up items.
Team Camp is the base of operation for our Squad at the meet site...water, foam rollers, medical supplies, and members of the coaching staff can always be found here...it is a team effort to keep this place clean and looking good...please lend a helping hand whenever possible to help set-up, take down and the cleaning of camp at the end of a meet...thanks
We represent our school and our community when “on the road” with our team...from the course, to the bus, to any restaurant you may find yourself in...PLEASE act in a manner that would make our town proud! #keepitclassy
The true measure of a runner isn't in time, but rather in the effort it took along the way - Jenny Hadfield