Penn Township resident Greg Shogan wants to see more students on Penn-Trafford High School’s track and field roster.
And he believes his new youth track and field program will help with that.
Shogan — a runner, cyclist, triathlete and pole vaulter — launched in the fall a USA Track & Field-certified cross country program, which operates independently of the Penn-Trafford School District.
The Penn-Trafford Track & Field Club is open to students in kindergarten through sixth grade. Between 30 and 40 students participated in the cross country season.
Interest has doubled for the team’s first track season. Eighty-four students are registered to participate in one or multiple of the sprinting, distance running, jumping and throwing events, Shogan said.
“It’s been surprising. The kids, we’re actually working them pretty hard,” he said. “We try to make it fun, too, but we want them to get the physical stamina. A lot of people don’t realize that track can be a very hard sport.”
A volunteer coach for Penn-Trafford High School’s track and field team, Shogan has observed a dwindling roster in recent years.
“I’m specifically doing this, because I would like to grow the Penn-Trafford track program,” he said. “It seems like it’s on the decline. All the kids want to do one sport year-round … which I personally think is not the greatest for the kids. I think the kids should get a little bit of everything.”
The youth team has completed about half of their seven regular season meets, he said. Students can compete in the following events:
• Sprinting — 100m, 200m, 400m, 4 x 100m relay and 4 x 400m relay
• Distance running — 800m, 1500m and 3000m
• Jumping — long jump, triple jump, high jump and pole vaulting (for those 12 years and older)
• Throwing — javelin and shot put
Following the team’s final regular season meet on June 20, athletes will compete at the USATF Three Rivers Association championship at Slippery Rock University on June 21. Here, athletes can qualify for a spot in the regional meet at Moravian University in Bethlehem in July.
Top finishers at the regional meet will compete at the USATF National Junior Olympics Track & Field Championships on July 27 in California.
Shogan believes about 20 of his athletes could qualify for the regional or national meets.
“The kids (are) showing up for practice and most of them are very good listeners,” he said. “They’re all hard workers.”
Opening of registration for the cross country season will be announced on the team’s website, penntraffordtrackclub.com. Shogan said he aims to open the cross country program to students from neighboring school districts.