Coach Anderson's Journal
11/21/2007 12:00:00 AM
Nov. 21, 2007
TCU head coach Darryl Anderson once again sat down with GoFrogs.com to give fans an inside look into how practice has gone entering Thanksgiving break.
Coach Anderson will give readers an inside look at what each week of practice has been like through a weekly journal. Below is the sixth installment of the journal.
Darryl Anderson
Sixth Installment
I think we have had some really good things happen in our practice sessions as we get ready to break for Thanksgiving. Of course we always have some things to tighten up, but that's why you do the testing period. I think from an individual standpoint, I like what I saw from the short sprinters when we were doing flying 30's. Andon Mitchell toped out during that time at 2.85 and I really feel that is exceptional for this time of the year. Really, the bulk of the guys were under 2.90 seconds, so I thought that was really good for a flying 30. With the quarter milers, Che Chavez during his 300-meter fitness test ran 32.9 seconds, which was good. Overall, those guys were between 32.9 and 34 seconds on their runs.
On the women's side, we did the flying 30's without Jessica Young because she was going through her testing week with the quarter milers, while Virgil Hodge isn't at the testing point yet because she got a late start in her training because of the world championships. Really, Jessica Clarke led the way in the flying 30's by running 3.22 seconds and for the most part I feel that we are making progress in that area. Jessica Young did very well in the 600-meters considering she had never run that distance before. She was 38.2 in the 300-meter fitness test, while Kishelle Paul was 38 and some change. Really, we had a lot of kids run about 38 seconds on the women's side and that was pleasing. We really have to start honing in and digging in on the tough speed endurance work because the essence of their race is speed endurance.
I feel good about where we are at right now. The short sprinters are ready to dig in and get some acceleration work done now after Thanksgiving break.
Overall, Mychal Dungey has been solid, while Matthew Love, Sean Zurko, Andon Mitchell, Jessica Clarke and Jessica Young have all stood up and showed that they have gotten some things done based off of their training results. With the older guys, Justyn, Otis and Jay Cooper were solid in testing, while Kishelle Paul was also solid. We have had a good fall and now we have to tie up all the loose ends after the break.
Really, if you look at our whole team it is exciting. Festus Kigen stepped up and qualified for the NCAA's in cross country, while in the throws area Tommy Killen threw the shot 55 feet this week during the testing, which is better then he threw the shot all of last year. He also threw the discus 198 feet this week, which is a personal best for him. Candis Kelley has thrown the shot over 50 feet throughout the fall, while the freshman Stormy Harrison is continuing to learn as she has thrown the discus 157 feet and has been very steady.
With the jumpers, Jonathan Jackson and Neidra Covington have done more work this fall for complete fitness and jump fitness then they have done since I have been here and that is exceptional. Jeremy Cline has also done well and can definitely do some things for us this year in the long jump, while JimAnne Hejny is an exceptional athlete, but has to be patient and get what she can because of some health issues. She is starting to see what she can do and not press. La'Quinta Ross has had a good fall and is going to be good, while Amber Anderson just needs some confidence. I am hopeful that once she sees what the level of competition is like at this level that hopefully it will help get her competitive juices flowing.
I'm excited and I feel good about what we got going into Thanksgiving break. This fall is going to be a good lead up into the season and slowly progress us to the bottom line, the NCAA outdoor meet. I am calm and looking forward to where we are going because where we are at right now is a good place.
Players Mentioned
