Track serious photos

(Photos courtesy of Bob Kopac)

Here are a few photos taken by Mid-Hudson Road Runners Club official photographer Bob Kopac from last Friday’s MHRRC Summer Track Series at Spackenkill High School. The turnout was low because there was a torrential downpour at around 5 p.m. I mean, it was coming down in sheets and buckets.

But, as often happens this time of year, by 6:15 or so, the sun was out and the rain was drying off quickly from the grass. The series – or, as my youngest son James used to say a few years ago, the “track serious” -- was a go!

Congrats to Billy “Fresh” Hild who ran a modest PR in the 1,600 (4:47) on his old high school track. Not a bad effort, considering it is the middle of the summer, he has been doing zero speedwork and it was his second run of the day.

Kudos also to Cuesta for pacing Fresh and a gaggle of local high school boys through a judicious opening 800 meters in around 2:24. Now is the time when I would have some wise-guy comment to say about Cuesta … but I will not! Nicely done, bro.

One of these photos includes Fresh lapping his high school coach (and Marist alum) Mr. Bucket, who was pacing my son Joey in the 1,600 meters. You can also see Joey’s finishing kick with Mr. B in the background.

And lastly, you’ll see that James proved to be a tough cookie by completing two more kids’ races after taking a nasty spill that required two big band-aids on his knee in the 200-meter dash.

Many thanks to Bob for these excellent photos.