Over the past few years, the Douglas boys and girls track team has had some talented athletes running for Coach Jeff Thayer, unfortunately they’ve all graduated and the Tigers will be looking to start rebuilding from the ground up.

“Honestly, our goal this year is just to develop the runners we have to the best of our ability,” Thayer said. “And hopefully they’ll be better prepared for the spring season.”

On the boys’ side of the track Thayer has two distance runners who could really be strong runners over the next few years. The big question is can they learn how to race and once they figure that out the Tiger coach firmly believes that they should be able to break through and start dropping their times.

Junior Amer Chaudhary has been running on the team since his freshman campaign and typically can run anything from the 800 meter to the 2-mile, while sophomore Trent Fragalia takes part in the same events, but he has been doing this since middle school. During last year’s spring season both runners were able to break five minutes in the mile and are close to doing so during the winter season.

Chaudhary has more speed and is better suited for the 800 meter and mile, while Fragalia is an endurance runner and finds his best in the mile and 2-mile. According to the coach, either runner is very capable and should eventually be able to run a 4.40 mile if they continue to train properly.

As the boys are better suited to run the distance events, the girls gravitate more towards sprinting. Freshman Abigail Evers currently has completed the 300 in 48 seconds, which is a decent time for a first-time runner, but she is still learning and should progress through the years. Evers also runs either the lead or second leg of the 4x2 relay.

“She was a runner in middle school, but they didn’t have this distance, so it’s a learning experience. She needs to learn how to pace herself and add a little more strength and she should be able to improve, the Tigers coach said. “She is young and hasn’t come close to her ceiling yet and could become something very special in the near future.”

Another part of the Douglas 4x2 relay as well as the 4x4 relay will be Addison Bioniasz. The sophomore will anchor both relays, while also taking part in the 300 as well as the high jump. Like Evers, she, too, is just learning the 300 but should become proficient in the race once she gets stronger and older. As far as the high jump goes the sophomore is very into the event and has currently passed 4’4” and is working on her approach so that she can get better elevation to improve her jumping skills.

With Thayer possessing a rather young group of individuals he is basically looking to focus on their past performances and races on the track so that they can learn from their experiences, while continuing to develop, By their junior seasons he is looking for them to make a splash.