Greene County’s high school track & field athletes starting practicing last week, especially those not out for a Winter sport. Chad Morton is the new head boys’ coach. A decorated track & field athlete himself, Morton has been an official the past 17 years, making a name for himself by officiating at both the Drake Relays and Iowa High School Coed State Meet annually. Morton told Raccoon Valley Radio that track & field runs in the family. He coached at the high school level years ago and always thought he’d like to get back into coaching.

Coach Morton told Raccoon Valley Radio about the rest of the coaching staff for the Rams. “Derek Merk is the girls’ head coach. Dean Lyons is the boys’ assistant and Pat Gearhardt is the girls’ assistant. We also have volunteer coaches in Andy Carman and his Dad, Doug Carman, in the throws, and Scott Johnson is helping with the hurdles. We really have a great group of guys working with the kids. We’ve talked as a group that we’re going to work together to help our athletes. It’s not always going to be the girls and the boys, but more of the jumpers or throwers, or sprinters, etc. We’re going to work together to help make our athletes as strong as they can be.”

The coach added there are three indoor meets on the schedule, but not all athletes may compete in all the indoor meets. The outdoor season is scheduled to begin in Jefferson on March 26 with the Greene County Early Bird Meet at Linduska Field.