The Torch

Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Curtis McCain Robby Fegels leads Sam Helland, Sarah Debbit and JoLena Boatsmen of the pole-vaulting team in a jog around the track at a LCC practice. All will be competing in the meet Saturday, Mar. 1.

The LCC track team kicks off its season with a multi-event meet at Chico State in California this Thursday through Friday Feb. 28-29, and a full track and field meet at Southern Oregon University on Saturday, March 1. The team hopes to start its season successfully and set a positive tone for the rest of the year.
The Chico State multi-event meet is low key. On average, only about 200 to 300 spectators attend. It's a chance for the athletes participating in the decathlon and heptathlon to gauge where they are in their training for the events.
A decathlon is a contest where the athlete competes in ten events. The contest is held over two days of competition. Decathlon events include the long jump, the high jump, the discus throw, the shot putt, the javelin throw, the 110-meter hurdle race and the 100, 400, and 1500-meter races. The heptathlon is seven events consisting of the long jump, high jump, shot putt and javelin throw, 100-meter hurdles and the 200 and 800-meter races.
LCC is well-known for producing talented multi-event athletes. Several decathletes and heptathletes hope to continue the legacy this year.
"Historically [LCC's] multi event tradition is unparalleled in the Northwest, if not community colleges across the nation. If you look at our top ten list, it's unbelievable," Cody Fleming, the assistant track coach, said.
Multi-event competitors are important to the team especially toward the end of the season during the championship meet. Each team is only allowed to bring 28 athletes to compete in the final meet, so those who are able to score points for the team in multiple events are extremely valuable.
The Ashland meet is the first for the team as a whole. LCC wants to use this icebreaker meet to set a tone for the rest of the season.
The LCC track and field teams hope to capitalize on the return of a large number of last year's athletes. With their help, there is a chance of seeing an improvement from last year's second place showing for the men, and third place showing for the women in the championship meet.

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