Sophomore Emily Brigham and juniors Parker Brush and Ashton Proctor, all standout spring track and field athletes, have been participating in indoor track and field with private clubs in recent off seasons in order to help them perform above and beyond during their school season.

“During indoor track we normally focus more on form than improving our height,” Brush, a pole-vaulter, said. “That way once you get to the spring season you’re basically at the same place you finished last season at instead of starting new. You also get more race experience.”

Indoor track and field is also more dependent on self motivation to practice than spring track and field with only one to two practices a week instead of every day after school. Athletes are expected to follow a workout schedule for the rest of the week that their coaches write up for them.

“I really enjoy the team and running with the people,” Proctor said of his practices. “Also, the atmosphere is really laid back and focused on individual scores instead of team scores.”

Track and field clubs also give athletes who perform a level above their fellow teammates an opportunity to perform for college scouts and get a chance to meet coaches from a variety of colleges and universities.

“I have met many college contacts through doing indoor track and field,” Brigham said. “I know most of the college coaches and some of the vaulters too. I want to pursue track and field in college so going to meets and getting to know people and coaches is going to help me in the long run.”

One of the biggest differences between indoor and outdoor track is the fact that athletes are not forced to deal with many conditions that would otherwise have to during spring track, such as the wind and inclement weather.

“It’s different because with the indoor [meets] you don’t have to mess with the wind and other weather conditions and that’s really nice,” Brigham said.

The athletes have a chance to work with coaches who are experienced not only as high school and college athletes, but also sometimes Olympic level athletes. Proctor’s sprinting coach, Edward Thomas, has run the 100m, 200m and 4x100m in the Olympic trials in the past.

Brigham’s pole-vaulting coach also has Olympic trial experience. Brigham’s coach, Todd Cooper, has been named Collegiate All-American three times and competed in two Olympic Trials.

“I love my coach, he’s a great guy,” Brigham said. “He’s really down to earth and we just click and get each other.”

All three athletes hope to bring the skills and improved performance they have gained through participating in indoor track to help them bring more victories for the spring track and field team.

Emily Brigham, pole-vault

Brigham, a pole-vaulter, has just started her second year of indoor track with her pole-vaulting club Just Vault.

“Doing indoor track keeps me in shape and lets me work harder on my events and I have time to get really picky with my form and trying to get everything perfect and ready for the school season,” said Brigham. “Although there are not as many people [in indoor track competitions] because you’re going against people from all over that you would never see during spring season.”

Brigham finished last season with a personal best 12 foot vault and hopes that her indoor track training will help her improve.

Ashton Proctor, sprinting

Proctor, a 400 meter runner, has just started his second year participating in an indoor track and field running club.

“My form is definitely a lot better, which is what we focus on in indoor track,” Proctor said.

Proctor, who specializes in the 400m sprint for indoor and outdoor, also sometimes runs the 200m and 600yd sprints. He currently holds the school record for the 400m sprint.

Being a junior, Proctor is especially focused on the prospect of collegiate track and field.

“I mainly do it for the college scouts. College scouts are making sure that you’re good at indoor track too because that’s what you have to run in college.”

Parker Brush, pole-vault

Brush, a new addition to the track and field team this past spring, currently holds the school’s pole-vault record with a height of 13 feet and 6 inches.

For Brush, practices for indoor and outdoor track vary significantly.
“Spring track doesn’t necessarily specialize in pole vault,” Brush said. “We work out with the sprinters and then do pole vault exercises after. You don’t have to do a sprint workout to practice pole vault so indoor track is better for training in that way.”

Brush’s typical work-out for an indoor track practice, starts with a warm up and then varies from switching off from weights to practicing his form to flying sprints.