Santa Rosa Press Democrat // News for California's North Bay and Redwood Empire

Low-tech edition (About)

DATE: Wednesday, May 24, 2006
BYLINE: By BRUCE MEADOWS
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

PROGRAM EXCELS AS FACILITY DETERIORATES
HURDLER ALENA COOK IN NATIONALS, 3 EARN PROVISIONAL QUALIFYING, BUT COACH CALLS TRACK `DISGRACE'

Alena Cook remembers the first time she saw the track facility at Sonoma State.
``It took me a while to actually find it,'' said Cook, now a senior and competing this week in the NCAA Division
II Championships in Emporia, Kan. ``I was disappointed but he (coach Jim Hiserman) was honest with me about what to
expect.''
The track sits within an area formerly occupied by the SSU football team before the school eliminated that sport
in 1996.
``We call it the `Wild Kingdom' but it's really a disgrace, an embarrassment,'' said Hiserman, in his 11th season.
Mounds around the track -- which previously held bleachers and a football press box -- are overgrown with weeds.
Runways for the high jump, long jump and pole vault can't be used anymore.
Hiserman calls it ``a dumping ground,'' pointing to piles of debris at the north end of the stadium.
``It's a playground, a dog run, you name it,'' he said. ``We're always cleaning up -- beer cans, cigarette butts,
condoms.''
If Hiserman sounds bitter, he is. But while his track is deteriorating, his program has managed to produce results.
Cook will represent SSU at the nationals in the 400-meter hurdles, where she has the 11th-best time in the country
(60.88 seconds).
Three other women recorded marks good enough for 2006 national provisional qualifying.
``We know the quality of coaching we're getting and that makes the difference,'' said Cook, 21, a kinesiology and
adaptive physical education major from Discovery Bay. ``At another school, I wouldn't have received specialized coaching.''
With a roster of 15 athletes, Hiserman can spend more time with individuals.
``I worry about the future of track here,'' said April Montgomery from Helix High in Southern California. ``When I
saw the condition of the track, I thought this was the last year.''
Hiserman figures the track -- which he says is past the point of restoring -- can last another 2-4 years, if he can
limit use.
``Campus police won't post signs ... they say the track is inaccessible and rules can't be enforced,'' said Hiserman,
adding the track and the women's program are in jeopardy.
``For gender equity, we need women's track,'' said athletic director Bill Fusco. ``But if we don't do something, the
site will not even be suitable for practice.''
Fusco said a general plan that includes a soccer complex does not necessarily include a new track, which would cost
as much as $3 million.
``We need to look at every alternative,'' said Fusco, including reconfiguring the track because the new soccer complex
would cut into the existing track.
He said there is also discussion about the team training at nearby Rancho Cotate High.
Ironically, the high school team used to hold meets at SSU until it became so degraded.
The track is a mix of red and blue, the original red surface having deteriorated.
``It's too late to resurface ... that should have been done years ago,'' said Hiserman. ``All-weather tracks should
be structurally sprayed every 7-10 years and it's never been done here.''
He said the track -- which was built in the 1980s -- ``is an old-time track and the granules are breaking up ... it's
probably a health hazard.''
He calls it ``6,000 yards of Type 2 toxic waste.''
Hiserman, 55, has talked about leaving.
``After this year, I can't -- in good conscience -- recruit track athletes,'' he said. ``Parents of freshmen ask me
if the track will still be here in four years and I can't honestly give them an answer.''
Fusco said if a new track is built, it will have to come from outside funding.
``We're constantly looking for sources,'' said Fusco, who said eliminating women's track would require introducing a
new women's sport to maintain gender equity at SSU.
``I understand Jim's frustration and he's done a remarkable job here,'' said Fusco. ``We could always do better.''
``One of the toughest things is not having home meets,'' said Cook. ``It would be great to have family and friends
come watch us compete.''
She said some of her instructors ``don't even know we have a track team.''
But, added Cook, adversity has fostered team unity.
``What we go through creates a bonding experience,'' said Cook, who has knocked nearly six seconds off her 400 hurdle
time in four years at SSU. ``Our team is very close and that motivates us to compete.''
Cook, recently named SSU's female athlete of the year, is nursing an injury that started with a metatarsal problem in
her left foot and manifested itself in a sore hamstring when she tried to compensate.
``I just deal with the pain,'' she said, noting it usually affects her before or after a race.
Cook runs in the preliminaries Thursday and, if she makes the top eight, competes in the finals on Saturday.
``I think I'm capable of running 59s,'' she said. ``I love competition, and being an underdog motivates me.''
On the dismal conditions she faces in practice, Cook said: ``We have a poor facility and we're generally treated like
third-class citizens, but we do what we have to do.''
``When people see our track for the first time, they ask whether it's abandoned or our practice track,'' said Hiserman.
``SSU is all about outward appearance and we are definitely kept out of sight.''
But Cook and her teammates have managed to keep the spotlight on women's track.
You can reach Staff Writer Bruce Meadows at 521-5263 or bmeadows@ pressdemocrat.com.

STAYING ON TRACK
Despite training on one of the worst Division II track and field facilities in the country, several SSU women managed
outstanding efforts in the CCAA Championships.
Elizabeth Kain, improved her school-record 400-meter time by .82 seconds, running 56.72; finished seventh in the final
in 57.01.
April Montgomery, improved to No.2 on all-time school list at 800 meters with a 2:15.96, then slashed 1.79 seconds off
that mark, finishing second in the finals; named CCAA Outstanding Freshman.
Teri Smith, set a person best (63.57) in the 400 hurdles, then took a full second off that mark in placing third in the
finals (62.57); she also ran a leg on the second-place 4x400 relay team, which ran a school record and national provisional
qualifying time (3:51.95).
Roxanne Sechler, ran personal best (58.32) in the 400 meters; also on 4x400 relay.
Allie Maguire, finished fifth in the hammer, surpassing her personal best on four of six throws.
Allison Daum, finished seventh in the 800 meters (2:22.83).
Note: SSU athletes recorded 14 top-10 marks, set three school records, four national qualifying marks; also earned
three Academic All-American honors, two All-CCAA awards.

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