2/19 update

Braves,

The indoor season has officially come to a close. When I look back at the things that I hoped would be accomplished on and for our team this season I see that our team took a big step forward. Over the course of the season we have improved in a number of areas. The evidence of these improvements were seen at each meet and at practice each day. This group has shown the importance of being committed to getting better each day in practice. You have shown a fearlessness in approaching your races and a willingness to do what your asked both in workouts and at meets. We probably ran in total nearly 10 times more 400s this indoor season that were ran last year indoor and outdoor. We had multiple boy and girl relays at every meet which is something that never occurred last season. The support of your teammates was something that really improved, and is one of the keys to a successful team. I was really happy to see and hear each of you cheering your teammates on both in races and practices.

Those things that were established during this indoor season must be carried over into the outdoor season and we will be counting on each of you to continue what you have started, and improve where you personally fell short. This outdoor season is going to be a blast, and we will have a lot of new faces joining us. It is great that we will add more people to our team, and we will need each of you to lead by example and show the new guys and girls what our team is about. Thank you for what you have done this season and for your contribution to our team.

We had over 50 people on our final roster. Multiple times throughout the year we had the most relay teams at the end of the meet, which is evidence of your commitment and support for your team and teammates. We had 22 kids do 2 or 3 events at Simplot, which is the biggest group that we have ever taken. We had 20 school records set this season. Almost every event had a school record broken this year.

I could dig up more numbers to show how awesome you all are, but to me the biggest compliment to you and our team are the changes and foundations being laid in our team’s culture. That is what truly makes a successful team and you are helping us get there.

Though we have made great progress as a team, individually we must all reflect on what we did this season and find ways to improve as we move forward. Obviously none of us were perfect, myself included, so use this week off to rededicate yourselves and find ways you can be better. To me one of those things is improving our mental toughness. It’s not about surviving a tough workout but dominating the tough workouts. It’s not about simply doing what the coaches ask but wanting to do even more. That is going to be the next step for our team as we strive for excellence.

Our first outdoor meeting is going to be on Monday 2/27 after school in the library. The first practice will be the next day. If you have questions feel free to contact me.

I also have a  unconventional request for parents and athletes: I am looking to build up a contact list for Bountiful High Track and Field alumni. If you or anyone you know ran for BHS have them send me an email, if they would like to be included. I will use this list to share information about the annual alumni meet that we are going to start (this year if possible but more likely next), and to invite them to help for future invitationals we will hold at BHS if we can somehow manage to get a large enough track to accommodate an invitational.

This is the final email on this list, we will be starting fresh with the outdoor season next week.

Enjoy your week off.

Coach Jacobson

2/12 update

Braves,

Out of 36 races on Friday night, 30 of them were personal or seasonal bests. That is an incredible number. Laurie set two new school indoor records, in the 1600 and 800 by a combined 12 seconds. Before her first race she said “I’m not even worried about this race” as she anxiously jumped up and down and shook her hands, then following that up with intense pacing. All that “lack of worry” paid off  and she ran an impressive race.

Another highlight of the meet was Dodds running his 400. Last season he ran more 400s indoors than anybody else. This year he has been excited to race them as he tries to reach new goals. He ran a 61 on Friday and was pretty livid, which speaks to his drive to reach his goals. I don’t care if you are the fastest on the team, or the slowest, you have to be able to set goals and work towards them if you want to improve. I was happy with Dodds’ race because you could see his fight all the way to the line. Since last year Dodds has cut off 7 seconds in his 400. Show me someone who has cut off 7 seconds in a 400 in one season and I will show you someone who has put in work over those 12 months to get better. Dodds wasn’t thrilled with his time, but sometimes that is how goal setting works. We set high goals which are realistic and work towards them. Sometimes we come up short, but ultimately we make it further than we would have had we not set a goal.

I am sad that the indoor season is winding down. It might just be my favorite season of the year. Luckily we have an awesome outdoor season waiting for us when we get back from Simplot. Our first outdoor meeting will be on Monday 2/27. Our first practice will be the day after that. I hope all of you can make it for the outdoor season. I know circumstance has made it so many of you weren’t able to give a full commitment to indoor, or you had to leave the team early. Outdoor track is a new season and a new team with a lot of new faces. Though our indoor team is going to play a huge role in what happens outdoors, I want those who weren’t able to do indoor the entire season, or at all, to know that they are a valued part of our team as we move outdoors. It’s a fresh start and a new season and I hope we can take advantage of it.

Next week’s email will be the last one for this email list. We appreciate all you have done since the end of November up until now. We put in a lot of hard work and have seen some great improvements. As we head outdoors those times will begin to drop even more as the fruits of our labors during the winter months begin to come out. Those of you not going to Simplot are still encouraged to practice with us this week on Monday-Wednesday.

Those going to Simplot will receive another email here shortly with a few reminders and what to expect this week.

Thanks for all you do, see you tomorrow.

Coach Jacobson

2/5 update

Braves,

This week we were able to get some quality work in. We felt that those who were at practice each day walked away with improvements. The attendance at practice this week was lower than usual, though I know a number of you were sick. With 2 meets remaining, and for most of you only 1, before outdoor season, now is not the time to start missing practice. Missing too much practice will eventually undo all the progress you have made thus far. If we aren’t getting better, then we are getting worse. All season long we have shown dedication and determination, with only two weeks remaining lets finish strong.

Crazy to think there is only two weeks of indoor left. I get excited for outdoor season, but we have a good thing going during this indoor season and I don’t want that to end. Let’s make sure that what we started during indoor is carried over into outdoor. Our team will grow in numbers, as it does every year during the outdoor season, and that is a good thing. With increased numbers there are more people that don’t yet understand our culture of work ethic, determination, and support, so we will be counting on each of you to be an example of what we do on our team.

When I use the word “our” to describe the team, I do not just mean “the coaches’” team, but rather each of you as athletes and as parents. Bountiful High Track and Field is only as good as the people of whom it is comprised, and we feel lucky to be working with such great people. Your contributions to the team extend beyond this season alone and beyond your years in high school. Each person that passes through leaves and impact and makes us better, and we hope that you still feel connected to BHS track even years down the road – which is why we are going to start doing the “alumni meet” hopefully next season, so we can keep in contact with each of you. We are still building our team and culture here, so each of you has an enormous role in helping create what we hope our team will be for many years. This team is part of the foundation of what our team will become. So thank you for all you do, and let’s keep getting better.

This week we will be racing once again and the Olympic Oval. The meet is called the distance challenge, but luckily they also run a 400m. They do the 400, 800, 1600, and 3200. I don’t yet have the order of events or when it begins, but the meet will be on Friday and will begin sometime around 4 PM I believe. It is a Friday only meet. Last year they charged $5 and you could run however many races you want. I imagine it will be the same this year. When I get the information I will share that with you.

Even though not all the sprints and hurdles are competed, we still want our entire team there. Sprinters, hurdlers, and jumpers we want you to run a 400 and support our distance runners. Distance runners, talk to Coach Caitlin about what event(s) you should do. For those of you going to Simplot, this is our last chance to see you race before we make decisions on relays. It could be the difference between who is on the A team vs B team, or who is able to be in a relay at all. With that in mind, let’s make sure we take advantage of this week in practice, and race hard on Friday.

For those who are going to Simplot we will be meeting in my classroom after practice (approx. 4 PM) to discuss the trip, expectations, events, and so on. Please make sure you are in attendance. In the event you are still interested in Simplot, I can maybe fit one or two more people in, so let me know if you are interested ASAP and I will see what we can do.

Thanks to all who came to our team party on Friday. That was a blast. Congrats to McKade on winning the Super Smash Bros tourney; I’m extremely bitter that I lost that title but credit to where it is due. The epic snowball fight in the parking lot left the nerves in my fingers mangled and frost bitten (the picture is on Instagram) J so I’ve had to dictate this email through the voice to text feature.

Keep up the great work and let’s continue to get better, not just in races but in how we train, prepare, and live. Let me know if you have any questions.

Coach Jacobson