2016 Track team runs, throws and jumps into a season of high hopes

As spring rolls around and the sun comes out, Bearcat fans prepare for long, hot days around the track to root for our athletes. Last season, the boys team placed third behind Arroyo Grande and San Luis Obispo, whereas the girls placed fourth also behind AG, SLO, and Atascadero. A major reason for our placing behind the Eagles and Tigers is due to their sixth period varsity track practice, in which they began practice in January, whereas PRHS was unable to begin practicing until February when our winter sport season had come to a close.
While they fell short to local rivals last year, both the boys and girls have high hopes for the season ahead. Although our varsity girls placed fourth, the often overlooked JV girls took home first place last spring and the majority of them have returned.
“If we move them up to varsity and run a more full squad, I could see us being in the mix for first or second for sure,” head varsity coach Anthony Overton said.
Our boys, on the other hand, have high promise, but they are expected to be about the same caliber of excellence, according to Overton. While the track team is always high on newbies, and low on returners, due to injuries and pure lack of drive to improve, there are high hopes for this set of new runners.
Although there are high hopes for new runners, a large majority of returning star athletes will be running back to Bearcat country.
“(I’m excited) just to see where all of our returners land…last year we graduated very few people, only like eight to nine seniors…most of our talent is back,” Overton said.

Meet the Runners.