Windham’s Summer Rec Track and Field readies emerging athletes for future competition

Paris Knight walks on air while competing
in the long jump during a Windham
Parks and Recreation Summer Rec
Track Meet.
PHOTO BY REBECCA VERSLUIS

By Matt Pascarella

Windham Parks and Recreation Summer track program looked a little different this year. But their goal was the same: to teach kids the basics and get them interested and excited about track and field. Athletes were given the opportunity to develop their skills in running as well as some field events (javelin, shot put, long jump and discus).

Summer track is associated with the USA Track and Field (USATF) organization. Although athletes, ages 5 to 14 could not compete against other towns, USATF held a virtual track meet during the summer. USATF’s virtual track meet was a competition against athletes on the Windham team.

Coaches got times and distances from events and those scores were sent to USATF to rank and score them against other towns.

Here are some highlights from Windham’s virtual meet:

Andrew Young took first place in the 13/14 year old 400-meter race, the 800, and the 1500. Jalen Stephens won the 9/10 boy's shot put. Karl Longstreth won the 11/12 boy's shot put. Marek Slomczynski won the 11/12 boy's discus and the 11/12 boy's javelin.

Naia Varney won the eight and under girl's long jump. Hanna Miele won the 9/10 girl's long jump. Noah Saucier won the 11/12 boy's long jump. Caitlyn Marsh won the 13/14 girl's javelin and the 13/14 girl’s 400. Mason Bragdon won the 11/12 boy's 3000. Kayo Longstreth won the eight and under boy's javelin throw.

Marin Miele won the 8 and under girls race/walk. Paris Knight won the 11/12 boy's race/walk.

Zach Noonan won the 13/14 boy's 100. Taylor Lucas won the 9/10 girl's 1500 and the 800. Dylan Crockett won the boy's 11/12 200 and Renner Gerrity won the 9/10 boy's long jump.

Windham High graduate and Parks and Recreation coach Hannah Langstaff coached the program this year and last year and has participated in Windham’s Summer Parks and Recreation track since she was 5.

“I still remember the coaches that were there and how much of an impact they had on me, so I just hope that I can do that for these kids. I also hope that the summer track program gets kids to continue track into middle school and high school to grow those programs as well.”

She said that her favorite part about being a coach is definitely seeing the kids get excited to run or do field events.

“It’s really awesome to see them so invested in the sport.”

Windham Parks and Recreation made sure participants were being as safe as possible in response to COVID-19 pandemic.

“It took a lot of careful planning for each part of practice to make sure social distancing and other

guidelines were being followed,” said coach Phil Jackson.

When athletes arrived, their temperature was taken, and they used hand sanitizer.

Each coach worked with a small group of athletes so being socially distant was easier. Throwing implements were sanitized after each practice and not shared between athletes.

“We had to wear masks, sanitize, and stay social distanced, although after the first practice I think we had a pretty good system down. Coach Jackson used cones to separate the kids whenever they were not running, so at field events or during stretches,” said Langstaff.

They had close to 80 athletes participate this summer.

“Even during the pandemic, our numbers were still higher than last year. I think given that so many sporting events were cancelled this spring and summer, there was an increased interest for children to be involved in something that allowed for socializing and physical activity,” said Jackson. <