A CASE FOR

INDOOR

TRACK & FIELD

TRAINING FACILITIES

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 A Network Alert Special Report from Intercity Sports Review


JERSEY CITY CLUB TRACK COACH
MAKES STRONG CASE FOR INDOOR TRACK 
TRAINING FACILITIES


     Copyright (c) 1997 ICA Sports, all rights reserved


     A feature sports story on page E1 of the Jersey Journal
of 1 February, 1997, highlighted the activities of a Jersey
City, NJ youth track club. The coach (not affiliated with ICA
Sports) was interviewed extensively. Perhaps without
realizing it, he made a very strong case for the restoration
of quality indoor track and field training facilities for the
athletes of Jersey City.
     Journal staff writer Michael Hogan quoted the coach
reminiscent of his 1980 high school experiences in Jersey
City. As he compared the local track scene of 1980 with
today's woeful scenario, the coach also referred to levels of
performance. There were some oversights in his observations
that spotlight the current training site deficiencies.
Unfortunately, when he compared a contemporary outstanding
athlete with those of that bygone era, he did not mention the
fact that in 1980 local high school athletes had ready access
to then state of the art indoor training facilities that
included the National Guard Armory on Montgomery Street with
its 176 yard and 200 meter tracks.  This is no longer the
case and has not been for several years.
     The former Snyder High School honor student, an all-
county middle distance runner who is now at a leading east
coast Division 1 university, was named by the coach in the
article. "In Jersey City in 1980 [he] would have been an also
ran," according to that coach. "In the mile and 800 he would
have gotten chewed up." This writer presumes that the quotes
are accurate. That coach's conclusions, however, are subject
to some serious questions. The athlete referred to has set
several records in distances ranging from the 800 to two
miles. The young man ranks very high on the lists of several
coaches organizations and sports journalists of all-time
outstanding athletes from a county that has produced a
multitude of track and field stars. This he did without
access to the kind of indoor training facilities that many
local athletes (including the coach quoted in the article)
were able to use until the mid 1980's.
     Comparing athletes of different eras who encountered
varied conditions of training and competition is a highly
speculative activity. While it may be entertaining or
amusing, if done in good taste, the reliability of such
predictions would not qualify one for a NASA contract. What
if this outstanding athlete had had a "level playing field"
(or same indoor training facilities) as those with whom he
has been compared. Wouldn't logic dictate that his
accomplishments would have been greater and not less?




          [To be continued -- S. Daniels, ICA Sports]




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Eight Cities Network References:


J.C.H.S. TRACK MEET, 1943 - 1983, Dante V. DiDomenico


N.J.H.S. BOYS TRACK & FIELD ANNUAL, 1989-90, Ed Grant


PENN RELAY CHAMPS, Jersey Journal, p30s, 15 May, 1980


CENTURY 21 COUNTDOWN, ICA Sports, 1972, 85, 88


"Success in '96 Depends on Today's Junior Athletes,"
AMERICAN ATHLETICS, Winter 1991, Mike Byrnes



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                   INTERCITY SPORTS REVIEW
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                 Jersey City, NJ 07309-9041


          E-mail: intercity_sports_review@juno.com
        Website - http://www.ICASports.org/
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