Hard work leads Bison sprinters to success down homestretch

Brett Burton/McCook Daily Gazette Members of the McCook High School boys 400-meter relay team are, from left: Brendan Liess, Tony Purvis, Jeff Klug, Derek Ruppert. [Click to enlarge]

Last Friday, at the Holdrege Invitational, the McCook Holdrege rivalry lived up to its hype.

The final event of the day put the two best 1600-meter relay teams in Class B on the track to run side by side.

Tension engulfed the stadium, as the first 1500 meters were a blur of gold and red stride for stride.

Brett Burton/McCook Daily Gazette McCook High School's varsity sprinters and coach are, front from left: Brendan Liess, Tony Purvis, Jeff Klug, Derek Ruppert. Back: Alex Beam, Craig Fritz, coach John Gumb. [Click to enlarge]

After reaching the final curve, junior Brendan Liess blazed past Mitch Ostgren for the meet record, and the fastest time in the state at 3:22.8.

"We knew we would be behind after the first leg, because Holdrege ran their best runner first. We felt like the second and third runners could close the gap, and our last guy (Liess) was better than their last guy. That's the way it turned out," Bison coach John Gumb said.

Not only did the 1600-meter relay team take the top position in the state, but so did the 400-meter relay team by clocking in at 43.1.

"We would like to break the school record in the 1600-meter relay, and run the 400-meter relay in under 43 seconds by the end of the season," junior Tony Purvis said.

The 1600-meter relay record of 3:21.9 set in 1967 by Larry Hoff, John Vap, Jerry Larson and Jim Edwards is the oldest record standing in the MHS record book.

At the time, Gumb was a senior at Fremont High School participating in the long jump at the Nebraska State Track Meet and remembers it distinctly.

"Today athletes are better because of weight training and other training methods. They also ran that race on a cinder track which is pretty amazing that the record has stood up so long," Gumb said.

Being successful on meet days just doesn't come on accident. Putting in several hours a week with physically demanding practices accounts for their results.

"To run the 400 your body goes into oxygen deficit, so your muscles have to learn how to function under oxygen deficit, " Gumb said. "You work very hard at the beginning of the week and taper off towards the end, so your body can eliminate lactic acid which creates fatigue."

"Our practices are not very fun at all, but they definitely prepare us for our upcoming meets," senior Derek Ruppert said.

In the past five years, McCook has been a state champion in either the 1600 or the 400-meter relay three of those years. Mental preparation in practice has been one of the major keys.

"In the 400-meter relay, you have to block out the competition when executing the pass. Once they secure the baton, then they can realize where they are at in the race," Gumb said.

According to junior Jeff Klug, he believes repetition has played a big part in the Bison's relay success.

"Repetition, precision, coaching techniques, and some more repetition has helped our relay teams out a lot," he said.

Going through tough practices and being around each other has created a special bond between them.

"It is always good to be close to each other, and I know I can always count on everyone to give their best," Klug said.

For the lone newcomer to the relay teams this year, sophomore Craig Fritz has enjoyed competing with the juniors and seniors.

"I feel lucky to be around three other great athletes and competitors in the 1600-meter relay," he said.

Coaching the sprinters for 27 years, John Gumb has been known to get the best out of the athletes he coaches.

"We try to vary our workouts, and make them a little competitive. I give them goals to reach during practice, and they take a lot of pride in accomplishing those goals such as running 16 200's in 32 seconds," Gumb said.

Gumb is always reminding them to give it their all.

"Coach Gumb always tells me to finish strong at the end of every race," Liess said.

"When our meet comes around we feel so prepared and confident that we know we can be in any race," senior Alex Beam said.

The sprinters also know that when they do not give their all, they are not just letting themselves down.

"When you don't run up to your maximum potential, you really feel bad because you are letting coach Gumb down too," Purvis said.

Stiff competition within the team has also had an effect on where everyone is running on the track, with Liess, Klug, and Purvis running an 11.1 or better in the 100 meter dash.

"I've had faster kids, but what helps us is we have four good sprinters. This makes us a little more balanced, and that is why we have been successful so far," Gumb said.

With the district meet in McCook coming up in less than a week, the Bison are working hard to perform well at home and continue on with the tradition of great relay teams.

"The work ethic of the sprinters has stayed consistent throughout the years, but this group has taken great pride in their practice accomplishments.

Their respect for their opponents is tremendous. They know if they take one night off, it will probably be enough for their opponents to catch up to them, " Gumb said.

The McCook boys and girls track teams will compete at the Greater Nebraska Athletic Conference meet at Kearney.

The meet starts at 2 p.m.

McCook hosts a Class B district meet next Thursday.

The Nebraska state meet is May 20-21 at Omaha.