2008 Woodie Awards
Tough workouts pay off for Chippewas' sprinters
By: D J Palomares
Issue date: 2/13/08 Section: Sports
The sprinters on the men's track and field team attribute their recent success to the grueling process they put themselves through.
Five days of the week, they spend the first 30 minutes of practice jogging, stretching and working on form. The sprinters spend four days a week running in different styles and two days weight lifting.
Freshman David Ashcraft said individual running is encouraged on days off from practice.
"If we have a meet on Friday we are told to run sometime (on Saturday) just to get the kinks out. Because you are going to be a little sore from running at race pace," Ashcraft said. "Just a light run, 20 minutes, about three miles or so."
Sophomore Kyle Fortin said weight training is just as important as running.
"Weight training is very key for sprinters because we have to be strong," Fortin said. "We do a lot of core work a lot of abdominal work."
Freshman Emanuel Sledge appreciates the importance coach Jim Knapp puts on the basics in practice, which he said keeps the runners healthy and on the track.
"We take our warming up and cooling down very serious," Sledge said. "A lot of times your muscles can get tight if you don't take it seriously and do it the proper way."
Sledge, Fortin and Ashcraft all set personal records in the 400-meter dash last Friday at the Meyo Invitational. Because they are all underclassmen, they share a closer bond than most teammates.
"We are getting closer - a lot of guys are starting to hang out together," Sledge said. "You see these people so much, everyday in practice and at lifting, it is always good to get along with each other and be friends. We are starting to develop that kind of relationship with each other."
Fortin said the sprinters get together for dinner and will talk about practice and school. They may spend as many as two hours together at the dinner table.
The trio travels with the team to Ypsilanti this weekend to compete in the Eastern Michigan Classic. It will be their last competition before the Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships, at which Fortin said they are anticipating making a difference.
"I think all three of us are going to score," Fortin said. "We can all score in the 400-meter, and we are looking to win the 4x400-meter relay in the MAC meet."
sports@cm-life.com
Five days of the week, they spend the first 30 minutes of practice jogging, stretching and working on form. The sprinters spend four days a week running in different styles and two days weight lifting.
Freshman David Ashcraft said individual running is encouraged on days off from practice.
"If we have a meet on Friday we are told to run sometime (on Saturday) just to get the kinks out. Because you are going to be a little sore from running at race pace," Ashcraft said. "Just a light run, 20 minutes, about three miles or so."
Sophomore Kyle Fortin said weight training is just as important as running.
"Weight training is very key for sprinters because we have to be strong," Fortin said. "We do a lot of core work a lot of abdominal work."
Freshman Emanuel Sledge appreciates the importance coach Jim Knapp puts on the basics in practice, which he said keeps the runners healthy and on the track.
"We take our warming up and cooling down very serious," Sledge said. "A lot of times your muscles can get tight if you don't take it seriously and do it the proper way."
Sledge, Fortin and Ashcraft all set personal records in the 400-meter dash last Friday at the Meyo Invitational. Because they are all underclassmen, they share a closer bond than most teammates.
"We are getting closer - a lot of guys are starting to hang out together," Sledge said. "You see these people so much, everyday in practice and at lifting, it is always good to get along with each other and be friends. We are starting to develop that kind of relationship with each other."
Fortin said the sprinters get together for dinner and will talk about practice and school. They may spend as many as two hours together at the dinner table.
The trio travels with the team to Ypsilanti this weekend to compete in the Eastern Michigan Classic. It will be their last competition before the Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships, at which Fortin said they are anticipating making a difference.
"I think all three of us are going to score," Fortin said. "We can all score in the 400-meter, and we are looking to win the 4x400-meter relay in the MAC meet."
sports@cm-life.com
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