Brentwood Track and Field Focusing on Basics

When track and field coach Darren Wade uses the word “young” to describe his team, it is more of a reflection on the team’s inexperience rather than the actual age of his kids.

“Young is not meaning as in grade level,” he said, “We get first-time runners out … this year we might have three or four juniors that have never run track before.”

Wade said that for many of his runners, jumpers and throwers, this season is an introduction to track and field. It’s not like in 2005, 2006 and 2007 when Brentwood runners competed at the state meet in the 4x100-meter and 4x200-meter relays, he said.

“It’s been a teaching process for the kids. Every year, some stay, some don’t stay. We’ve been really focusing on teaching the fundamentals of track, and educating them on fundamentals and skills,” Wade said.

There are more kids out this year than in the recent past, Wade said. There are 18 kids on the roster this spring, including boys and girls.

“I have one senior, Eli Moore. I expect big things out of him in the 100 (meters) and 200, maybe the 400,” Wade said. He said his 100- and 200-meter times have been improving each season.

“He ran a 23.3 (seconds in the 200), so in this weather that’s pretty good.”

Paige Anderson, a high jumper, cleared 4-foot, 6-inches last year at districts, so Wade is looking for her to surpass that and go higher this year.

The Class 2 District 2 meet at Principia in May (date is to be determined) will include Brentwood, as well as Maplewood Richmond Heights.

“I try to put us in big meets, so we can at least try to compete and develop, so when we compete in Class 2 we can at least compete a little bit,” Wade said.

The Eagles are in the Skippy Keefer Relays at John Burroughs and the Webster Groves Invitational this season.

“I try to put them in good competition so they can see what it’s like on the higher level.”