1/28 update

Phoenix,

I'm sorry I'm getting this out a day late. We had another great week last week, and it's clear that our collective fitness is improving. I've had fun working with the hurdlers a few times in the past week or so, and we will continue to work hurdles on occasion during the winter. I also recommend doing any hurdle drills you can on your own, before or after practice. 

As with any task that requires improving technique, watching video of people doing it well is a great strategy to help you improve your own skills. Video, paired with visualization, makes a huge difference. If you're thinking, 'I don't even know what video to watch,' I'll give a few recommendations below of current US greats.

For hurdles: Keni Harrison. Discus: Valarie Allman. Shot put: Ryan Crouser. Sprints: Sha'carri Richardson and Noah Lyles. Distance: Courtney Wayment, Emily Sisson. Clayton Young, and Conner Mantz (the last 3 are hoping to book a spot on Saturday for the 2024 Paris Olympics in the Marathon).

You vaulters and jumpers will need to ask Coach Halls and Farrell what video to watch, because those ones are unique enough at different levels of ability that you may benefit from watching amateurs in addition to professionals. 

Snow Canyon Invitational

We are getting very close, and I think the trip is going to happen. We still could use a few more affirmative votes on the survey, so if you got it and you haven't yet, please go select yes. We are now trying to jump through the final few hoops. I will likely have one room available for a chaperone, if a parent or two would like to join us. If you are interested in that, please let me know.

This week

This week we will be practicing after school on Monday/Wednesday, and in class on Tuesday/Thursday. The weather looks to be quite warm, so we plan to be outside after checking in. Please plan accordingly. I recommend bringing spikes to practice every day. 

(Side note, If you aren't sure what spikes are, they are racing and jumping shoes designed for the track. There are also specific spikes designed for different events, sprints, distance, jumps. Sometimes those who are new to the sport think they aren't important, but they make a huge difference, so I really recommend getting some. They can be found at the Nike store, Salt Lake Running Co., online, etc.)

There is a meet this weekend at he Olympic Ice Oval in Kearns: 5662 South 4800 West Cougar Lane
I've included the meet information with registration info and the approximate schedule below. Please note that you will be registering as individuals, not as a team. 

If any of you would like to run a relay, please let me know and I can register relay teams, and the team will cover the cost of those relays. I would LOVE to have a bunch of 4x400s at the end of the day on Saturday. 

We encourage all of you to go compete and get a starting point for where you are right now. Especially if you want to go to Simplot or to Snow Canyon, this will help you decide on which individual event you want to do (Simplot) and if you'll be able to go (Snow Canyon).

Talk to your event coach about a plan for competing.

Friday/Saturday Meet Information

Link to Register for the Meet on Friday/Saturday 2/2, 3

Simplot

If you would like to go to Simplot, but you haven't yet told me if you'd like a hotel, or which events, please fill out this form. I'm going to drop excess rooms on Wednesday morning. We still have plenty of space remaining.

Currently we have 23 kids who want to stay at the hotel, which is great, but my biggest problem at the moment is transportation. Kids will need transportation to get up there and home, and then to and from the hotel to the arena (we won't be going back and forth, just once each day). If we don't have enough transportation I'm going to have to drop all the rooms. 

If any of you parents want to bring your child up, or your family, and you want one of the rooms I'm holding, please let me know. Rooms are growing more and more scarce.

Also keep in mind with Simplot, each person is only allowed 1 individual event. 

If you have any questions please let me know.

Coach Jacobson

1/21 update

Phoenix,

I apologize for getting this update out a bit late. With the meet on Friday, in addition to all the hoops through which I am required to jump for the St. George trip, I never got around to it. 

I've said this a few times, but we have a really great group of kids this year. It's been a lot of fun working with you all. I have appreciated your energy and willingness to work. That will be invaluable moving forward. Let us find ways to be better in our approach and execution day in and day out.

Snow Canyon (St. George)

Speaking of St. George, those who said they are interested in going will have an email sent to their parents/guardians with a survey about whether the parents approve of the trip. Please check your email and respond to the survey. Without 80% approval we will not be able to go. Non-responses are counted as a no.

At this point the trip is still up in the air, it depends on if we can get the survey completed in time and if we have enough kids who want to go to keep the cost down. Once the survey is finalized we'll have more clarity on the matter. 

That said, if any of you said yes on the form that you want to go, but you actually can't, then I need to know asap. If a few people who said yes can no longer go, then we may have to scrap the trip. I need to know your final trip status by Wednesday 1/24.

Simplot

If you would like to go to Simplot, but you haven't yet told me if you'd like a hotel, or which events, please fill out this form.

We're going to need a few parents to drive kids up and/or stay up there for the weekend to help with transportation. If you would be interested in that please let me know. I may be biased, but I think it's a lot of fun.

This week

This week we will be practicing all 5 days, for the first time this year. We're off to a good start, but we have a long ways to go, so be sure to improve your consistency in training, and support your teammates.

We will try to be outside as often as possible, so dress accordingly. The first few days of the week in particular look like they will be very warm. 

Weber State Inv.

There is a meet at Weber this weekend, but it isn't one that we necessarily promote. Next week at the Olympic Oval is one we will encourage everyone to attend. If you'd like to go to Weber, here is the meet information. runnercard.com

I know there will likely be pole vaulters going on Friday night with Coach Halls.

Be sure to select "individual sign-up" when registering.

National Girls and Women in Sports Day - Utah Jazz Event

In celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day and in partnership with Toyota, the Utah Jazz is hosting a Her Time Watch Party on Thursday, February 8 at Delta Center. Come cheer with us as the Jazz take on the Phoenix Suns. There will be food, fun and a free gift for everyone who attends.  

The event is free but registration is required. This is NOT a school sponsored event. Parents and students will need to find their own way to the Delta Center. The game vs. the Phoenix Suns will be played in Phoenix, and broadcast in the  Delta Center.

Her Time to Play - Watch Party @ Delta Center (02/08/24) : Jazz Camps and Clinics (leagueapps.com)

If you have any questions please let me know.

Coach Jacobson

1/14 update

Phoenix,

We've had a great start to our second semester. I loved meeting many new faces, it will take some time for the coaches to memorize names, so stay patient with us when we ask you for the 5th time. I've been very impressed with our sprint/jump/vault team, with the consistency so far, with the throwers and how they want to improve, and of course our distance team and their love of running in the snow. If we keep up the consistency and continue to level up, we'll become a very strong team.

Below are a few things to be aware of as we move forward.

There are two forms I'm asking athletes to fill out so that we know who wants to go on a few possible trips that we are going on - one to Pocatello (not school sponsored), and one to St. George (school sponsored). If you cannot go on the trip, please still out the form for us so we know you've been ruled out.

BYU Indoor Meet

This weekend there is an indoor meet at BYU. We aren't promoting this meet as a huge team event, but it is an opportunity to go down and compete. If you are interested, talk to your event coach and see if you should go down, and then registration is done on your own at the following site: BYU Indoor Invitational [High School][2024] - meettrax

For this meet there may be coaches going down on Friday night, but likely not at all on Saturday.

Schedule for 1/15-19

This week there is no school on Monday, and therefore no practice, so talk to your event coaches about potential workouts that you can do on your own or with friends.

We will have class on Tuesday/Thursday and then after school practice on Wednesday only. As a reminder, practices will rarely end right at 2:20. If you have sensitive things you need to attend to after school, we're accommodating to that during the winter season, but do what you can to make sure that you can complete the workouts before leaving. They will rarely go much beyond 2:45.

The Simplot Games

Please view the information at the link herein, some of which is time sensitive - including a form to share your interest level, for the Simplot Games: https://farmingtontrack.blogspot.com/p/simplot-2024-overview.html 

Snow Canyon Invitational - St. George, 3/8-9

We are hoping to take some of the team to St. George in early March. 

We will leave early in the morning on Friday 3/8, and return late Saturday night. The official cost is still TBD, but will be around $300 per person. This would be a school approved trip so absences will be excused.

Please be aware that we will NOT be able to take the entire team on this trip. Due to limitations for entries in the meet, we wouldn't be able to reasonably fill two buses, so we are limited to 1 bus, a maximum of 51 athletes. For the trip to be worth the cost, we will try to get most people in multiple events, but that is not guaranteed either.

We will have to make decisions on who can go compete. We are only allowed 6 entries per event, which means some of our athletes won't make the cut. That will be decided based on times from last year, xc, and done during indoor this year. Attendance at practices will also be given equal weight. Those who attend with consistency and with marks respectively closer to state qualifying standards will be given priority.

Please note that this is time sensitive, so please fill this out by Monday night, 1/15.

Below, please let me know your interest level after considering the cost. 

Snow Canyon Inv. Interest level.

Event Groupme

If you haven't yet joined your event group me, please go join at the following link.

Farmington Phoenix Track & Field and Cross Country: Event Groupme Links (farmingtontrack.blogspot.com)

If you have any questions please let me know.

Coach Jacobson