Track & field team begins 2nd phase of season preparation

Brian Schweyen knows his program has a longer season than any other team in the Montana athletics department. The indoor track & field season stretches both academic calendars, and the outdoor season can go well into most student-athletes' summer vacations. And that doesn't even including the distance runners, who begin cross country competition as early as August.

Because of all this, Schweyen – a former All-America high jumper himself – knows the importance of taking advantage of the offseason. In fact, during the summer months, he doesn't even assign a routine for his team.

"The only thing I tell them is to rest and stay active," he said.

'Stay active' is a broad term, and it's intended to be that way. Schweyen really does not care what his student-athletes do over the summer, leaving it open to their discretion. Hiking? Great. Biking? Go for it. Swimming. Yep. Lifting weights? Always good.

"The grind of the season is so long," Schweyen said. "By the time we get to May and June, most have been going hard for nine, 10 months. A big part of preparation is recovery, so it's important for them to let their minds recover and let their bodies recover, and sometimes that means doing nothing."

By September, when the fall semester begins, the team reconvenes, but is still a few weeks away from organized team activities. Upperclassmen will lead voluntary workouts, but the first several weeks of the semester are more focused on getting the student-athletes – particularly the newcomers – adjusted.

Acquainted to school and new classes, to new responsibilities, and for some, to moving away from home and living in a new city on their own.

By mid-September the Grizzlies finally get on the track. With a roster size approaching triple digits, it's rare for the entire team to train together, but individual units will group up four times per week and begin getting back into a routine and getting in shape.

The technical aspect doesn't come for another month-plus, which this year began on Monday.

"Now that we've been going for several weeks, we'll start to ramp it up another gear and start to get a little bit more intense and focused on training for the season."

Every drill becomes a little bit more specialized and focused, not to mention training five times per week instead of four. In another week, the Grizzlies will move to their indoor facility, where they will hone in on their technical skills.

A roster as big as a track & field team could be overwhelming to manage, but Schweyen relies heavily on his assistant coaches. Paul Reneau oversees the sprinters, Schweyen and Adam Bork work with the multis and jumps, David Paul is with the throwers, spending more time in the weight room than any other group. Vicky Pounds is building a base with the mid-distance runners. And of course, the cross country team is already in competition.

"Everyone's going in different directions, but we're all funneling toward the same point, Schweyen said.

"The staff is so great, and all of the coaches are on board. They do a fantastic job, so really, it's not difficult for me. I just have to take care of my area and know that they're doing the same."

Another big part of the staff is Drew Babcock, the team's athletic trainer.

With such a long season, not only does Schweyen worry about the team being at peak physical performance, but also staying healthy.

"Drew does a lot of prehab and injury prevention," Schweyen said. "He's checking up on them on a daily basis and they're cycling through his door even more frequently."

The summer offseason of rest is in the rearview, and now too is Phase 1 of season prep. The Grizzlies will continue to work out five times per week leading up to their first meet of the season, Dec. 1, in Cheney, Wash., each week adding a little bit more.

"There are a lot of people putting in a lot of effort and a lot of time," Schweyen said. "I think everyone is working hard. There's a big freshman group that's come in, and I couldn't be happier with them, and I couldn't be happier with the returners either. Collectively, as a group, I'm extremely pleased with where we're at. Everyone is doing a fantastic job."

University of Montana Athletics

Track & field team begins 2nd phase of season preparation

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