Picking Out a Few of the Many

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Some were getting into the swing of their things. Others, coming off a busy indoor season or waiting for sea level (distance runners), took a lighter approach or even the day off.

It's not that an outdoor season can be long, but combined with the indoor campaign just ending, it adds up. But if you're a multi competitor, the first meet of the season represents a chance to have competitive workout in a few select events.

While some can focus on a particular skill, multis walk under an umbrella of tasks, and a chance to pick a few out for a meet is not that unsimilar from practice. Only the juices are flowing a bit more.

The Jack Christiansen Invitational at Colorado State this weekend gave Tereza Babicka and Elija Scott just that chance, even if the day was cut short by inclement weather just before 3 p.m. and a few more hours of events on the schedule.

It did cut out one event they both wanted to do – the javelin for Babicka, the 4x400 relay for Scott – but they both considered it a successful first step toward building for the Bryan Clay Multis, April 10-11 in Azusa, Calif.

Multis coach Marshall Ackley was ill and not at the meet, but he had devised a plan for both of them. He picked their events, and truth be told, both were aligned personally with his thinking. Perfectly so when it came to the hurdles.

"For me it's always good to get the hurdle races started and just work on the confidence going into the multis," she said. "The hurdles are the first event for us in the heptathlon, so it's important to start good, to get rolling.

"I would definitely do the 100 hurdles and get a javelin opportunity. We didn't get the chance today, and shot put is always interesting, because it's not a high impact event."

Saturday was a good day for her confidence, as she opened with the shot put. Not only did she beat everybody in the first flight, she did good enough to advance to the finals, thrilled about getting three additional throws, her best a 35-10.5. In the hurdles, she placed second to teammate Annabella Palillian.

In the decathlon, the second day begins with the 110 hurdles, so Scott also felt the benefit from running the event. Adding to it, Babicka threw out during the indoor season it is a 60-meter event, and the added distance changes the scope.

"The hurdles start on our second day, so we can kind of simulate the second day coming into the hurdles tired, not totally prepared but willing to run the best we can," Scott said. "That sets us up for future, actual decathlons. That makes us more confident. I may be one of the worst-feeling athletes here, but I'll be confident I can hit these hurdles quick and fast despite how I feel."

Which is why the season for a multi is crafted precisely. One does not do a decathlon or heptathlon every week, nor even every two. There has to be a build, specific practice days for the varied events, paired together so as not to turn out the body or the soul of the athlete.

Scott would not have minded a jumping event thrown into his day, but the schedule was a good way to start. The fact they attack open events in preparation pairs them against athletes who are prepared specifically for them makes the challenge greater.

"It's a humbling experience most of the time knowing we're going against athletes who practice that event every single day. If we can beat athletes who practice it every day, that just adds more confidence," he said. "We're looking for future competition, looking for future goals. As much as we want to do the best we can physically in the present moment, it's not always doable, but it does set us up for success down the road."

After the opening weekend, both Rams feel good about the direction they are headed. It would have been nice to get in that third event, but the early part of the spring season is always dicey. Just like multi events.

Somewhere in the lineup, there's going to be a hiccup, or an alternation to the plan will be necessary. Mentally, it's give an event their best shot, then move on to the next. Any minor victory should be celebrated, such as advancing to the finals as a multi with a slighter build standing in the ring with a bunch of 6-footers who earn their keep throwing implements of great weight.

"It did feel good. I was happy I made the finals and I could get three more throws," she said. "That's the plan, to go into it, get practice with the events we need to work on so we can feel fresh for the multi competitions and be confident."

Overall, before the meet had to be called, Colorado State was enjoying some solid performances to set the tone for the season.

The men picked up a trio of 1-2 finishes with Hunter Strand leading Mateo Delgadillo to the line; Dominic Gallelli clipping Cole Nordman in the 110 hurdles and Ndayiragije Shukurami topping Jamison Taylor in the high jump.

The 4x100 team of Nordman, Jack Cauble, Tyler Colwell and Kyle Dempsey came out with a blazing 39.94 victory, with Kyle Bigley winning the discus (162-11.75) and Travis Turner turned in the fifth-best time in program history (46.76) in wining the 400.

The women weren't being left behind with a 1-2-3 finish and a three other 1-2 punches on the day.

Klaire Kovatch, who placed in all the throws, led a CSU trio in the discus (176-4), followed by Kajsa Borrman and Makayla Long. Long and Kovatch were the top competitors in the shot put, with Long's top throw a 54-1.5 (ranking sixth at CSU). Maria Kimpson's 12-11.5 – fourth-best effort for the program – won the pole vault ahead of Emily Adams (12-7.5, ninth), going with the 100 hurdles finish.

Whether an athlete's season is about narrow focus or grand, the goal is to get started, even if it ends a bit quicker than anticipated. Eventually, it will all hit in a flash.

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Players Mentioned

Emily Adams

Tereza Babicka

Kyle Bigley

Kajsa Borrman

Jack Cauble

Tyler Colwell

Mateo Delgadillo

Kyle Dempsey

Dominic Gallelli

Maria Kimpson

Klaire Kovatch

Makayla Long

Cole Nordman

Annabella Palillian

Hunter Strand

Jamison Taylor

Travis Turner Jr.