Track and Field is certainly not a sport many people think of as fun or interesting. In fact, many times it is on the receiving end of a comment complaining about just how boring a sport could be. Yet, to the few at Chaminade who take part in it, there is something that keeps them involved. So, with track season just a month out this article hopes to answer, “why track?” and explore this year’s expectations in a interview with head coach Mr. Chrismer.  

Mr. Chrismer first explained that he sees this year as more of a rebuilding year, as although “for the last four or five years, we’ve had a pretty solid middle-distance team, sprinters across the board,” transfers and graduations have worn the roster thin.  

“We lost a lot,” he put bluntly. Since last year the team has lost its best shot-put thrower to graduation, as well its best disc thrower and other sprinters to transfers. \

However, he also expressed that he is excited for the next group of guys to come in and make an impact as well as those returning from last year who competed at a high level. In particular, he mentioned “Tyler Martin, who was an all-state qualifying pole vaulter” and “Matthew Sansone, one of the top 300 [meter] hurdlers in the area” as well as August Banks and Will Strothmann.  

With such a young team, track has already begun pre-season workouts despite the cold and conflicting schedules. Distance running has had a strong program since November and the end of cross country, but, as Chrismer said, “the challenge is on the jumps, throws, hurdle side.” For him, it is not just a matter of finding bodies but getting them there as winter sports and club sports take up time, “making it tough to get guys out for preseason track.” 

Despite these challenges, he still very much looks forward to the start of the season, especially for the annual all-Catholic meet held at Chaminade, where roughly 30 Catholic schools from St. Louis and surrounding areas will compete on the Hilltop: “a lot from out of town. Teams from Springfield, Chicago, Columbia, Kansas City, all over.” To him, it is an interesting experience just getting to compete and see Catholic teams not typically in the St. Louis area.  

The track and field team looks hopefully towards this season and anticipates to see many breakout performances from newcomers. Although they may lack some experience having lost so many upperclassmen, Mr. Chrismer is adamant that the team will be ready to go for the season and will have a throws coach by the start of the season to complement the already great staff.