Brownsville track teams adapt despite having no track to call home
One look at Brownsville’s boys and girls track teams’ schedules and it’s apparent something is unusual. None of the opponents is listed in the characteristic bold letters, indicating home meets, and there are no @ signs indicating away meets. But make no mistake about it, the schedule-makers made no errors. Each of Brownsville’s track meets is an away meet.
With no home track to call their own, players take to the road for every meet, like Willie Nelson, on the road again … and again.
But it’s no deterrent for fourth-year coach Brian Nicholson, his assistant coaches or his 25 boys and 21 girls.
“Without a track, our players have learned to adapt to their surroundings and conditions,” Nicholson said. “It may be more frustrating for the kids than coaches because they have to work under those conditions. We do our throwing on grass fields, and roadwork for our distance events. We have the 100- and 200-meters distances marked off and have created throwing lanes, using an old soccer field as our practice site.”
Although Brownsville does not have the numbers of larger schools, nor returning depth, Nicholson regards those factors as somewhat of a team strength. “Our kids are willing to work. They work well as a team. They feed off each other and help each other and motivate each other to be out there without a track.”
No track, no hurdles, no jumping pits, “everything is makeshift,” Nicholson added. “Our kids are there because they want to be there. There is no glamour under these circumstances.”
While Nicholson may have turned obvious disadvantages into a “team strength” concept, there is no escaping the weaknesses of his boys team.
“Inexperience is key,” he said, “but that may be an advantage in the long run. Because our team is so young, it could help and pay off in the future.”
And naturally not having a home track facility is another weakness. Another day, another meet, another bus ride.
Under an arrangement with California University of Pennsylvania last year, Nicholson’s Falcons took a bus ride every day – to practice, eight miles away. However, this year Brownsville can only use California’s facilities two days per week.
“Now we work out around our school,” Nicholson said.
To speak with Nicholson, you wouldn’t know his Falcons were 0-12 overall, 0-8 in Section 6-AA dual meets last year, unless the specific question was asked. Nicholson is completely positive in discussing his players and their prospects this season, even if he has only three letter-winners among his 10 seniors, none among his four juniors and eight sophomores. But the juniors and sophomores and three freshmen present that ray of hope for the future.
Among Brownsville’s three senior lettermen is Joshua Stalvey, a 5-8, 130-pound two-miler who also runs the 800 meters event and runs one leg on the Falcons’ 3200-meter relay team.
“Joshua is a competitor,” Nicholson said, noting that Stalvey’s best event is the 800. “He tries to improve and works out on days he does not have to. He is very motivated and plans to run in college. I’m sure he will achieve that collegiate goal because he is willing to work.”
Running alongside Stalvey during workouts is fellow-two miler Kaleb Valentine who, at 5-6, 130 pounds, “has a distance runner’s build, like Stalvey. Kaleb is full of energy and fun to coach. He has the potential to do well this year, but is still learning about pacing. He will build off last year’s experiences.”
Compared to Stalvey and Valentine, Aaron Wells, who competes in the shot put, discus and javelin, stands out with his 5-11, 150-pound frame.
“Aaron is a give-it-all-you-have type guy,” Nicholson said. “He puts everything into his game. He listens, tries to do his best and adapts to whatever situations arise.” Wells’ top event is the javelin.
Among the Falcons’ seven new seniors is Charles Rankin, a 5-9, 230-pound linebacker from the football team.
Benching more than 300 pounds, Rankin, who competes in the shot put, discus and javelin, is a “powerful young man,” Nicholson said. “He is either in the gym or outside working out every day, doing his weight training. He has amazing upper body and arm strength and throws the shot in the low 40s.” Demonstrating raw talent, Rankin is working with Nicholson to improve his technique.
“With his power and strength, Charles has the potential to qualify for states, even in his first year in track,” Nicholson added. “His distance should improve as the season goes on.”
Even though Cameron Coffey is a freshman and a member of the track team for the first time, Nicholson is more than aware of his talents and potential. Nicholson coached Coffey last fall as a member of Brownsville’s cross-country team.
At 5-4 and weighing only 105 pounds, Coffey did well in his first varsity cross-country campaign. Coffey runs the one- and two-mile events, as well as the 800 meters, with the 800, essentially a half-mile, his best event.
“Cameron ran cross-country this year and is very deceiving for his size,” Nicholson said. “He is an amazing runner. People see him as small and they underestimate him. But he is definitely a runner. In cross-country he went from 24 minutes to 18 in one season. His endurance is incredible in longer races and he has excellent stamina as a runner.
Coffey’s sister, Erika, a junior, is also a member of the track and cross-country teams.
“It’s the perfect situation to have a brother and sister on the team who run the same events,” Nicholson noted, “and it’s even better that they are willing to work out together. They train together and work off each other.”
As Brownsville’s boys and girls track teams prepare to open the season March 27 against Waynesburg, there is only one difference between their opponent that day and the remainder of the year: with every meet an away meet, all that will be different will be the name of the opponent. And the routes they travel.