Sub varsity meets more involved, growing sport

Northampton and Parkland host the open competitions

Northampton's Tim Caffrey and Parkland's Stephen Ott greet dozens of potential track & field athletes at the start of each season. Only so many of them can be varsity contributors in the 18 events throughout the season and qualify for the EPC league meet.

That often leaves the rest of the team to toil at practice every day with no real meet or competition as a reward.

That led Caffrey and Ott to change that situation for all EPC coaches and athletes. The two head coaches take turns hosting sub-varsity meets. Northampton and Parkland each hosted one in 2024, with Parkland hosting a third one Wednesday at 5 p.m.

“They need to find their way into the sport without a real young middle school experience,” Caffrey said. “Sometimes they are being cast into the varsity setting where things sometimes get discouraging because it's tough with more seasoned athletes.

“The open, easy-going [sub varsity] meets held by Parkland and Northampton help that movement into the sport for many kids.”

Competitors in the sub varsity meets are allowed to enter any event they choose. Varsity team members from the host schools serve as event workers, which gives them perspective on what the teachers, secretaries, hall monitors do at varsity meets.

“That helps the whole school become closer to the after-school climate that all schools need,” Caffrey added. “They have good things to talk about the next day in school.”

The sub varsity events are well attended by EPC athletes in part because it gives them a chance to run, jump, throw a qualifying mark for a league varsity meet.

There were seven heats in the girls’ 100-meter dash at the first sub varsity competition. There were 11 heats in the boys’ 200 in the second event at Northampton’s six-lane track.

Parkland’s Fully Automatic Timing system is used at all three events and the results are uploaded to Milesplit, a national website, so there is a sense of accomplishment and recognition for the competitors.

“I am happy to volunteer my time to help all EPC track and field student-athletes,” Ott said. “It takes a lot of behind-the-scenes effort with planning, sorting and organizing. Track and field student-athletes work hard and deserve a chance to shine, so I am happy to do it for all of them.

“It takes the help from all coaches of the teams involved in the actual running of the meet because we do not get paid workers.”

Everybody wins at these three sub varsity meets, which is a boost to the sport.