Dwight Howard Sr. had a goal with the creation of the first recreation track and field program in 2024: to prepare athletes for competition prior to middle school.
“This last four years, I’ve noticed the middle school kids, once they get to middle school, if they don’t know how to do an event or they can’t conquer it, they normally quit,” he said.
With 37 years of experience and responsibility as coach, Howard said he is trying to help young athletes in the rec program understand the foundations of the sport.
“You know, basically, how to hold your hands,” he said. “You know how to do everything. You might not be the fastest or the strongest, but at least you know the fundamentals.”
Howard said he’s seen “leaps and bounds” of improvement since the start of the season in February.
“Some kids walked out here (and) couldn’t do a lap before,” he said. “We know they can run four laps. And, if you’re obviously seeing that, you never hear anybody complaining.”
Howard taught fundamentals to roughly 25 youth at the Oglethorpe County High School track on April 17 in preparation for the North Georgia Youth Track and Field League Championship later that week.
“To be up here and not to be having to sit at home all day, doing something I love, doing it in old age, it’s wonderful,” Howard said.
Following a half-mile warmup run, javelin coach Craig Cheesborough stood on the track and encouraged athletes to “work (their) form the whole time” and “keep (their) arms bent” while completing high knees and high knee skips.
Dottie Wray, mother of third-grader William McCarty, said this is her son’s second year coached by Howard, and the sport is “the best way to get out any energy.”
“It’s an individual sport, so I feel like it’s showing him his own competition is himself,” she said. “And it’s nice, too, because, while we love team sports, this is also a chance for the individual to kind of show what he’s got.”
Fourth-grader Meara Shaw started practicing with the team last season and competing in the spring.
Shaw said she runs the 400 and 800 meters as her individual events, and also competes in the 4x100 relay and the 4x400 relay.
Athletes met at the long jump tracks with bullpen coach Guillermo Camacho and Howard.
Camacho reminded athletes to try not to scratch when leaving the takeoff board and that they “cannot touch the tape.”
Fourth-grader Chase Huling sprinted down the long jump runway, bending his knees and landing roughly 10 feet into the sand pit as Brielle Jones, a third-grader, bent her knees in preparation for takeoff, jumping roughly 5 feet into the standing long jump pit.
Across the field, Cheesborough helped kids with their javelin form, advising them to let the orange and black javelin spin and “throw it like (they) mean it.”
Shot put and javelin coach Josh Mowen told shot put throwers to “watch the line” when preparing their throws.
He watched as his son Austin used his left arm to launch a yellow softball roughly 30 meters onto the field as boys and participating coaches were divided into relay teams to practice handoffs for the 4x100 meter relay.
“Come on, old man,” one child yelled amidst cheers from teammates and watching parents.
Athletes were divided into five heats following the relay and lined up in lanes one through five for a 400-meter tempo run.
The first heat, consisting of Chase Huling and three teammates, finished the quarter mile lap in roughly 1:15.
“Get out fast,” Cheesborough said as runners rounded the first 50-meter curve. “Get out fast. Get out fast.”
To end practice, the team huddled together with Howard and Mowen for final words and a prayer.
Mowen asked if the team knew about childrens’ book “The Little Engine That Could,” and left them with an encouraging message.
“(The engine) says: “I think I can. I think I can. I think I can,” Mowen said. “Always think positive.”
“All we want is the best you have,” Howard said. “That’s all we need.”