Sports editor
High school track season began Tuesday for Marion, but it won’t be until next week before its athletes have to lace up their shoes on the road.
The Warriors played host Tuesday to the Centre CKTL and will be at home again Thursday for the Warrior Invitational.
Herington will have its “home” meet Tuesday at Marion, before the Warriors finally load up the bus for an April 17 road trip to Lindsborg.
Could that provide a home field advantage for the Warriors?
“I don’t know if there is a home field advantage other than we are used to the runways and throwing areas that we have,” said MHS head coach Grant Thierolf.
Thierolf added having familiar faces at the event probably helps athletes relax, but when the competition begins his teams are focused.
“I would like to think that because it is at home we have more fans show up for the meet, but track and field is spread over such a wide area that any cheering advantage is usually negated,” he said. “I don’t think we ever worry too much about where we compete.”
Senior hurdler Elliot Hett agrees.
Hett said he notices when a track may not be in as good of shape as Marion’s, but he has to perform no matter where the meet takes place.
“It doesn’t really matter to me,” he said.
Junior Julia Zeiner, a multiple state gold medalist, said there could be a slight advantage to having so many meets at home.
“Maybe a little bit because you are used to the track,” she said.
However, she said the crowd is not a factor when competing at home and, in fact, is so zoned in she never hears any kind of cheering.
Even if coaches and athletes don’t feel there is a home field advantage, there is no doubt when at home the Warriors are competing at a top-notch facility.
Marion is playing host to its third regional meet in the past five years, and a lot of that has to do with the new track and well-kept facilities.
“Our jumping and throw areas are designed to be very fan-friendly and we have the only track in the area where you can sit in the stands and watch every event — all 18 of them,” Thierolf said. “(Former Marion-Florence USD 408 Superintendent) Gerry Henderson had the vision of having a first-class track and field facility, and (current superintendent Lee) Leiker has kept that vision. We are very fortunate here in Marion.”
Zeiner agreed with her coach.
She said she enjoys competing at home and notices when competing on a track that is not in good shape.
“I don’t know if it affects me or not, but I do think about it,” she said.
Thierolf expects each athlete to do his or her best wherever the meet is taking place.
“The kids still have to perform,” he said.