We re way behind other states even in the Midwest in terms of track and field. Track and field in general, we do a lot of traveling in the summer and get to talk to coaches from different parts of the country. We re so far behind in the amount of time. I think we have a tremendous amount of talent that is untapped. We went to an invitational track meet at Ohio and the stands were filled like it was a state meet.
People say it s the weather.
It s part of it, but it can t be used as a cop out. I think some of them are jumping pretty well. Speed is something you re going to have or don t have, but you re either born with the fast twitch or a slow twitch. Lisa Ferry, who won three straight shot put titles for Greenville in Class AA in 1978 and 79 and A in 80, more recently has viewed the meet from the press box as a public address announcer and a FOX Sports-Chicago television commentator. I think it s still very exciting, said Ferry, who is now the athletics director at Kankakee.