THE SPORTS DESK
Winter Track Notepad: Black–Hawks anticipating solid results at invitational
SEE ALSO: Top Track Times
As Brooke Point’s boys track and field team gets set for three straight weeks of major indoor competitions, head coach Joe Ocheltree believes the group could be hitting its stride.
The Black–Hawks have done only conditioning work since returning from the holiday break and have slowly begun to work on their technique as they head into the Montgomery County Invitational on Saturday in Landover, Md.
So far, Ocheltree likes what he sees.
“We’ve got some good balance between the sprints and the different events,” Ocheltree said.
Brooke Point’s 800-meter relay team of Alec Brodeur, Matt Hottle, Manny Reyes and Rasheed Powers has established one of the state’s top times in Group AAA (1:32.44).
Ocheltree said the unit has a ways to go to catch up to the 400 relay team that won the 2011 outdoor state title, but he noted that Powers is the only senior in the group.
“That [2011] group was all seniors and had worked together for four years,” Ocheltree said. “This group is just now starting to learn what it takes to be competitive at the state level. There’s a long way to go yet.”
Ocheltree said junior thrower Joe Cline has also made quite an impression, putting the shot more than 48 feet this season.
“He’s worked very hard at it the last two years as a freshman and sophomore,” Ocheltree said. “He’s really good on technique and he understands what he needs to do. He’s starting to come into his own.”
Ocheltree is also anticipating contributions from Hottle and Powers in the hurdles and Brodeur and Reyes in the sprints.
Brooke Point also boasts junior distance standout Robert Walker, who was an all-Northwest Region and All-Area cross country runner last fall.
“We’re hoping it’s going to all come together,” Ocheltree said. “We still lack depth in certain areas, but we’ve got some good kids and we hope to pick up more kids in the spring.”
—Taft Coghill Jr.
