Today is the opening day of the 2018 Iowa State Track and Field Meet at Drake Stadium in Des Moines. The ACGC track and field teams will be bringing 17 entries total, nine girls and eight boys. While the numbers are similar for each team, and each has their share of field and long distance running events, the coaching styles for the girls and boys teams seem to be on opposite ends of the spectrum. At least in the way the coaches vocalize their thoughts.
Girls coach Colin Shawgo is definitely the more active of the two, constantly giving his athletes comments from the sidelines. While boys coach Tyler Mosbach takes a more stoic approach, usually leaving the majority of his comments until after the race. However, both coaches believe positivity and goal orientation is the best way to challenge young runners, throwers, and jumpers.
Shawgo explains his vocal nature. “Really, the big thing that I’m thinking to myself is I always want them to be the best that they can be. I’ve always tried to do that by encouraging them while they’re running. Because sometimes when you’re out there it can be very lonely. So when I was an athlete it always helped to have somebody there cheering me on, somebody yelling at me (and) reminding me that I need to keep going faster and, although it kind of stinks at the time, the relief and the amount of success that you feel is just worth it.”
Mosbach has also given the boys positive advice all season, including the mentality of always looking ahead, competing to the best of their abilities, and achieving the next goal. The first event for the Chargers is the field events, featuring Mady McDermott on the shot put and Caden Wardyn on the long jump. Listen to the Raccoon Valley Radio Network all weekend for results from Des Moines. See the full schedule of events below:
Event Day/Time
Girls’ Shot Put Thursday, 2:00 PM
(Mady McDermott)
Boys’ Long Jump Thursday, 2:00PM
(Caden Wardyn)
Boys’ Shuttle Hurdle Prelims Thursday, 2:40 PM
(Cole Boyer, Gabe Rowley, Caden Wardyn, Grady Laabs)
Girls’ 3000 Meter Run Thursday, 3:20 PM
(Kate Crawford, Emma Swanson)
Boys’ 3200 Meter Run Thursday, 3:50 PM
(Noah Nelson)
Girls’ 3200 Meter Relay Thursday, 5:00 PM
(Audrey Stowe, Sophie Danker, Rylee Sloss, Lauryn Embleton)
Girls’ Discus Friday, 2:00 PM
(Mady McDermott)
Girls’ 1600 Meter Medley Relay (Distance Medley) Friday, 2:40 PM
(Mady Smith, Savana Fuller, Sara Schmeling, Kate Crawford)
Girls’ 800 Meter Relay Friday, 4:30 PM
(Reagan Rumelhart, Sara Schmeling, Mady Smith, Savana Fuller)
Boys’ 1600 Meter Medley Relay (Distance Medley) Friday, 5:40 PM
(Dylan Soper, Justin Plowman, Caden Wardyn, Clay Billheimer)
Girls’ 800 Meter Run Saturday, 10:30 AM
(Kate Crawford)
Boys’ 800 Meter Run Saturday, 11:10 AM
(Clay Billheimer, Noah Nelson)
Boys’ 1600 Meter Run Saturday, 2:15 PM
(Clay Billheimer, Noah Nelson)
Girl’s 1500 Meter Run Saturday, 2:45 PM
(Kate Crawford)