Wissahickon Track Sprinting
By Max Davies ‘17
TTimes Staff Sports
The kickoff of the 2014 Track season is March 3rd.
I’m glad to be a member of the Wissahickon High school track team because of the program we have. From the coaches to the players we are a prospering team. Our coaching staff has many years of experience. Don Betterly known to most of the athletes as “Bet” is the head coach of the track team, and has been for almost the last two decades. He has a large amount of history here at wiss being that he once, too, went to the school. Graduated in 1973, Coach Betterly, was a state champ in the 440 meter dash in 1972, and anchored the still-standing 4×400 school record here at wiss. He was coached by Floyd Garris who is a well-respected track & field coach in the state of Pennsylvania. Coach Garris started as a football coach here at the high school in 1965, then switched. He coached his son (a pole-vaulter) into a state championship. One of Coach Garris’s greatest achievements was in 1982 the year wiss won the AAA state title Coach Garris was named the NFHS National Federation of High School Associations coach of the year. Many years later he was inducted into the state track and field hall of fame in 2011. Along with being coached by Garris, Betterly was also coached by returning assistant coach, Bill Gallagher. Coach Gallagher, former science teacher, started here in 1969. He is head coach of the indoor track team, and assistant of the spring team. All this knowledge is used on our athletes, making the team even more successful.
4 x 400 is back with top sprinters, Dave Stellato, Mike Harris, Rashawn Crawford, and Khalil Byrd. They went to states last year, and are now back for the 2014 season. At the Penn relays they ran 316.76 which is the fastest time run in the state for the 4 x 400.
The team is decorated with a wide range of skill sets. players are faster than others or players may be stronger than others. One athlete who stands out is David Stellato a senior at the high school, who broke the 800 meter record with a chart busting time of 2:00.3 when he was just a freshman. David is one of the fastest here at wiss. Another athlete who is beginning to impress is sophomore Darien Williams. Darien works hard at practice, and is running varsity as a sophomore, which is impressive. Darien says, “I was pretty slow in middle school, but I stuck with it, worked very hard, and now it’s paying off.” These athletes are leaders amongst the team, and are willing to help underclassmen struggling with the correct form or direction in drills. Track takes a lot of dedication, and strength compared to other sports because it consists of just running which can really take a toll on the body. The ones who are the best in track are the ones who work the hardest.
Many players trained hard through the winter during the indoor Track season thanks to Coach Gallagher and Betterly. Coach Gallagher, head coach of the indoor team, trained his distance runners with long runs in the cold weather. While Coach Betterly, trained his sprinters with sprinting drills down B hall. Both coaches are very familiar with track, and all the mechanics of it. I asked Coach Betterly what he hopes, and wants to accomplish for this season, all he had to say was, “All were trying to do this year is gain the conference championship title back from Cheltenham”. “They have some fast guys, and are looking good but it’s nothing we can’t handle” Coach Betterly says.
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