Shipley’s first-year indoor track program making strides

Bryn Mawr >> During the past few years, Shipley athletic director Mark Duncan had been asked by many of the school’s cross-country runners if the Bryn Mawr school could start a winter track program.
That dream became a reality after Duncan met with renowned sports performance trainer Antonio Davis last summer. Davis, a member of Penn State’s Athletic Hall of Fame, was an NCAA All-American track star at Penn States and had competed for spots on the 1996 and 2000 Olympic teams.
“I never was able to find the facility and a top-level coach, until I met with Antonio last summer,” said Duncan. “I have worked with Antonio before, and, before I knew it, I had a great proposal from him, plus an amazing facility in the Upper Merion Community Center.”
Davis said, “Many of my current [sports performance training] clients who attend Shipley were interested in running [winter] track and were disappointed that the school did not have a program in place. Mark Duncan knew various alumni and even Shipley staff I’d trained when they were growing up, like [Associate Director of Athletics] Katelyn Taylor and [Assistant to the Director of Athletics] Dakota Carroll, who wanted to see a winter track program started.
“It’s rare that a school hears a student’s need, takes it seriously and implements it. And parents such as Kari Richards and Julianna Viscardo have been incredible supporters of my involvement with Shipley. The school wanted not just a coach but someone who could jumpstart the program while implementing it. I am honored to be welcomed to such a great environment.”
Duncan added, “There was a need and request for the sport, and I think Antonio and Brandon [assistant coach Brandon Jacobs] have stepped up in a huge way and I was give the OK to move forward by our new Head of School, Michael Turner.”
In its inaugural season this winter, the Shipley squad has had several excellent performances from senior Randall Brown, as well as Main Line Athlete of the Week (Dec. 22, 2019) Sabrina Imes. In Shipley’s first-ever indoor track meet, the Gator sophomore not only won the 55 meter dash and the long jump in the tri-meet against Hill School and Peddie School, but landed the No. 1 spot in the state (for the winter indoor track 2019-2020 season) in the long jump and set a personal best of 18 feet 6 1/2 inches.
Imes said, “To compete in Shipley’s first-ever indoor track meet meant a lot because I never thought that Shipley would ever have a [winter] track team. I was really excited to see other people join the team and also be excited about my passion.”
In addition, many Shipley athletes have set personal records during the inaugural season, which Davis said is one of the advantages of the sport.
Track, as a sport, is one of the purest forms of self-esteem building there is,” said Davis. “Typically in competition, even if you don’t win, you can see your improvement measured in minutes, seconds and distance. So whether an athlete wins or not, evidence of improvement is always seen and is always an emotional pick-me-up.
“Shipley as a school, empowers their students using positive education as do I, our philosophies go hand-in-hand and is helping the student athlete build confidence both athletically and academically.”
Davis illustrated how track can build one’s esteem through his experience with one particular Shipley winter track athlete who had never competed in a varsity sport, yet ran the indoor mile in her first event for the Gators’ winter track squad and improved by more than two minutes from her practice times.
“I could tell by the sheer number of tears rolling down her cheeks that she was supremely disappointed in the fact that most athletes in the event had lapped her not once but twice,” said Davis. “She was absolutely disappointed and wanted to bypass her second event (800 meter run), leave the building and possibly the team. After a few minutes she composed herself and took up the courage to come and ask me for permission to run the 800 meter race.
“I told her, ‘I didn’t say, ‘No don’t leave,’ which puzzled her. I simply gave her two choices for her personal development – one, she can leave and be disappointed in herself that she didn’t complete her first varsity sport competition, or two, she can compete her second event and be proud that she competed at the high school varsity level in two events.”
The student-athlete in question decided to stay and compete in the 800-meter race.
“One would think that was the victory in that story, and they would be wrong,” said Davis. “The victory came when she almost won her heat in the 800, defeating three of the athletes that [had] lapped her and almost beating another who was ahead by only a step or so. The look on her face coming off the track when she had realized what she done was priceless – and that’s why I coach.”
As a coach, Davis is grateful for the contributions of assistant coach Brandon Jacobs.
“As a gifted educator, Brandon has a way of translating work ethic into meaningful instruction while using humor,” said Davis. “He brings value to the program as a dependable role model. He is open minded, willing to learn and as a former track athlete himself he can speak to the emotional side while I handle the tactical and performance sides. Together we leave no stone unturned.”
Davis is hopeful that, next winter, even more Shipley athletes will turn out for winter track.
“The biggest challenge in starting this team was getting the word out that the program exists,” said Davis. “Several athletes indicated their desire to join, however they had already committed to other sports before the announcement was made.”
Duncan added that, in the future, Shipley’s winter track program might even draw more students to the Bryn Mawr school.
“I think offering indoor track opens our school up to student-athletes we might not have had look at us before,” said Duncan. “Who knows how many more applicants we can get from this, and how many people in the past didn’t apply due to not having winter track?”
Davis said, “I know track will positively affect student-athletes for the rest of their lives. Bringing a part of my life that has been so instrumental in helping build my academic, athletic and professional success to the school, gives me a real sense of satisfaction and fulfillment.”