Wahluke track camp brings in big names
Wahluke High School sophomore Jazmin Ramirez smiles as pole vaulter Kristin Hixson Leland explains some techniques.
Rebecca Pettingill/Columbia Basin Herald
Olympic gold medalist Andre Phillips shows a Central Washington University athlete the proper form for going over a hurdle at the track and field camp on March 26.
A Mabton High School shot putter practices as national discus champion Jared Schuurmans observes.
From left to right the clinicians at the camp were Gregg Simmons, Willie Banks, Martha Mendenhall, Kristen Leland, Jared Schuurmans and Andre Phillips.
MATTAWA — Wahluke High School saw a star-studded line up of professional athletes and coaches Saturday for a track and field camp for local athletes to sharpen their skills.
“If there's a choice, then yes I'd definitely like to do it again,” said Wahluke High School sophomore Angel Vazquez.
Vazquez said he learned about sprints and handoffs for relays during the camp.
Through World Record Camps, Wahluke High School head track and field coach Joel Dugan Jr. was able to attract more than 150 student athletes from around Washington to Wahluke High School for the camp on Saturday.
This is the third time in the last five years Wahluke has hosted the camp, Dugan said, adding that the reason behind the camp is to reinvest in the school, in the community and even in the country. He wants to build a legacy that will last.
The camp allowed area athletes a full day to focus on their individual events with coaches and former athletes skilled in those events to guide them.
“It's about giving back and keeping track and field alive,” said former Olympian Andre Phillips, who coaches young competitors during workshops, including the one held at Wahluke High School.
The lineup of clinicians included:
• Gregg Simmons - A track and field coach who specializes in speed and performance. Over the past 25 years he has produced champions at the high school, collegiate and elite levels. He has also trained elite sprinters who have participated in the U.S. Olympic Trials.
• Willie Banks - A retired triple jumper whose achievements include holding the world record in the triple jump for longer than 10 years, winning a silver medal in the 1983 World Championships and qualifying for the Olympics in 1980, 1984 and 1988.
• Martha Mendenhall - A lifelong track and field competitor and a member of the USA Masters track and field team since 1992. She most recently competed in Brazil in October 2014. She has won three world championships and is a 14-time national champion. Her coaching experience spans more than 20 years.
• Kristen Hixson Leland - A former collegiate pole vaulter who was the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association women’s pole vault champion in 2015 and is currently aiming to make the Olympic pole vault team.
• Jared Schuurmans - A track and field athlete who competes in the discus throw. He was the American national discus champion in 2015 and won an National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics discus title in 2010 while at Doane College.
• Andre Phillips - A retired American Track and Field athlete who is best known for winning the 400 meter hurdles gold medal at the 1988 Olympic Games.
Wahluke senior Abigail Nieves ran with the sprinters during the camp.
“It was a really exciting experience because I did it my freshman year and then I thought it was a really cool experience, so I was hoping to do it again. And then COVID happened, so I was really excited to come do it again,” said Nieves.
She said a couple of the things she learned was how to pace herself during the 400-meter running event and how to adjust her form to work to her advantage.
Nieves said she recommends this camp to others because of the experiences they can gain, not just from the clinicians but also from other athletes in attendance.
Rebecca Pettingill can be reached via email at rpettingill@columbiabasinherald.com.
