BY DAVID OEHLING
Staff Writer

Indoor track is more of an individual sport than a team sport, and senior Gary Jackson is hoping to put his name in some school record books.

“My goals this season are to break the school record for the long jump and the triple jump,” Jackson said. The record of the long jump is 22 feet, three-quarters of an inch, and the record for the triple jump is 47 feet, three-quarters of an inch.

Coach Ed Helbig believes that Jackson has a shot at it.

“If anybody can break the record, Gary can definitely break these records. He works really hard, and he puts in a lot of time for training,” Helbig said.

“Indoor track is very different than regular outdoor track,” Helbig said. “There are no team meets. It is mostly individual.”

Junior Dennis Doyle also has some personal goals of his own this season.

“I would like to medal at tri-state this season,” Doyle said.

Jackson and Doyle got involved in indoor track from the beginning.

“Freshman year, I liked everything about it. I like to jump, and I thought I would be good at it,” Jackson said.

Indoor track starts training after Thanksgiving break.

“We train every day after school. They lift weights, and the distance runners run an hour after school everyday,” Helbig said.

Jackson said, “I train every day after school. I usually do a light run. I also lift to strengthen my legs.”

Doyle also trains to get ready for indoor track season.

“I usually run six days a week. I usually also lift with the team,” he said.

Indoor track has six races this season — four at Edinboro University and two at Youngstown State University. The season begins in mid-January and ends in February.

Individual runners are looking to qualify for states and participate in the TSTCA championship meet this season.