Wausau East Preseason Practice

Tuesday, March 13, 2007 at Wausau East



Some of the veteran track and field athletes at Wausau East: [Front row L-R] Jamie Dittmar [ 400m, 800m, LJ], Kate Sanft [ 1600m, 4x4 and 4x8 relays], Corinna Saager [ hurdles], Lizzy Wanta and Kelly Sandman. [Back row L-R] Hillary Annin and Alie Graham [4x4 and 4x8 relays]

As students walk out the main entrance of Wausau East high school they can see Rib Mountain which at 1924 feet above sea level is one of the highest points in Wisconsin. The school was built only three years ago and has state of the art facilities with the academic, fine arts and athletic facilities in separate wings. Prior to track practice the student body attended a pep assembly for the boys basketball team which will play Brookfield Central on Thursday in the State Boys Basketball Tournament. The field house has an indoor track but athletes also make use of the halls, stairs and weight room during track practice. The track was still covered by snow but the warm temperature was melting the snow at a record pace. The distance runners pictured below were able to run outside wearing their 'June apparel.'


Head girls track coach Tim Olson



During warmups coach Tim Olson's track athletes execute a variety of footwork and balance drills. The sprinters and jumpers then spent time on over-speed training using bungee chords.




Senior Jamie Dittmar is the defending D1 800m champion. She won the 2006 title with a time of 2:11.35. Dittmar is pictured above with her cousin Taylor Bootz who is a member of the boys track team at Wausau East. On the right Dittmar is working through a series of drills on stairs with other triple and long jumpers.

Dittmar competed at State in 2005 as a long jumper. As a ninth grader in 2004 she finished second to Joanna Schultz in the 400m posting a time of 58.05. She finished 5th in D1 in the 400m [58.07] at the 2005 State meet.