He’s just getting warmed up
Case Parker is just getting warmed up.
The East Valley sprinter enjoyed an outstanding junior season of track and field. Now he’s ready to top it – once he actually gets warmed up.
Cold temperatures have been the norm thus far in the 2008 high school track season. Even though schools are on spring break, temperatures still begin the day in the subfreezing range and snow remains commonplace. Cold temperatures make turning in hot times difficult.
“When it’s cold out, it’s a real challenge to get warm before a race,” Parker said. “The last thing you want to do is pull a muscle or something. I try to time my warm-up so that I finish the warm-up and immediately run the race. Once I get warm, it’s a little easier to stay warm for my next race. But you have to be careful and always keep it in mind.”
There is little doubt about what a fully warmed-up Parker can do.
Parker owns the state Class 3A’s fastest returning personal best time in the 400 meters (48.73 seconds). He placed second at least year’s state meet. His 22.39 personal record in the 200 is one of the three fastest in the state for Class 3A.
Those marks, along with his potential to go even faster, earned him a track scholarship to the University of Montana.
“I’m excited about going there,” he said. “They have a great track program, and I’m looking forward to getting in there and working hard. It’s a year-round thing in college. You train in the fall, there’s an indoor season over the winter and the regular track season in the spring. You basically take a couple weeks off in the summer, maybe and then start all over again.”
Earning a scholarship in track marked a shift in emphasis for Parker.
“Before I concentrated on football,” he said. “I did football in the fall and only really concentrated on track in the spring. In the summer I concentrated on football camps and getting ready for the season. I never did much for track once the season ended.
“This year I think I’ll probably do some summer meets, AAU meets or something like that. I want to do what I can before I head over to Montana.”
Aside from that, he said, he plans to maintain his own workout schedule.
“I like to come out and run by myself,” he said. “I have friends who will sometimes come out with me, and I like it when they do. I enjoy the company. But I’m also happy to get out there and concentrate by myself and run intervals or whatever.”
This spring Parker will use his versatility to help out the Knights.
In addition to his state berths in the 200 and 400, he also anchored the 4x400 relay team.
East Valley coach Dave McCarty has said he will move Parker around, wherever he’s needed this season.
A year ago, Parker concentrated on improving his start. By the time the season started, he was firing out of he blocks with strength and speed.
“I put a lot of work into improving my start,” he said. “I had a lot more confidence in it as the season wore on.”
This year, in addition to continuing to work on his start, Parker said he wants to concentrate on relaxation.
“I’m really trying to focus on relaxing as I run,” he said. “Especially late in a race, I want to run more relaxed. That’s hard for me, really hard, especially, like, in the last 100 meters of the 400. But if I can run relaxed, I can get faster.”
Parker is much more relaxed about his role on the team.
“Last year we had a big senior class,” he said. “This year there’s only four of us.
“I don’t have a problem assuming a leadership role with this team. We have some really good, young athletes and I think this team will be good next year and the year after.
“The one thing I do is try to make sure I set a good example for the rest of the team. If you’re a leader, you can’t afford to slack off and not do everything you’re supposed to do. You can’t cut corners because someone is watching.”