Outdoor Track team gains PSAL approval

The Flying Dragons will be competing in the Public School Athletic League this spring, it has just been announced. Prior to this, we ran as a club sport and entered invitational races each spring to develop interest in Track and Field events.

Our new season begins March 3rd with an interest meeting on February 6th and try-outs following that. With over sixty girls and boys expressing interest in this year's team, there will be a team selection process based on three factors: a talent assessment based on USATF criteria, performance in a simulated practice that includes 100m, 400m, and 1600m runs, and an assessment of the student's willingness to be coached, work ethic, and team compatibility.

Last year's team was large, dedicated, and energetic. Here's a photo of them. Many of them will be returning this spring and we are looking forward to welcoming many more new Track & Field athletes into the Flying Dragons family.

We've had a great season that didn't allow for a lot of updates to the blog along the way.  You can see lots of news and photos from the season at our "Fans of the Flying Dragons" page on Facebook.  Please visit that page at https://www.facebook.com/FlyingDragonsFans .

In the coming weeks you will see here information about our winter running crew, and our spring Track & Field team which is awaiting PSAL approval.

Here's a file with our current race times.

First day of school...and 14 days until our first race!

Here's a first look at the full Cross Country team. These are the 37 who were ready to run yesterday; there are another eight or so not pictured. We have fast runners at every grade level and a good number who are trying out the sport for the first time. We have only four girls but are working to increase that number.
We started the afternoon with a team meeting to deal with paperwork and greet the newest runners, and then headed to the track at Riverbank State Park for an abbreviated track workout.  Joining us was our new Assistant Coach Bertrand Oubida. Bertrand is volunteering his time while he finishes his last year at CCNY.  He's a member of their Soccer and Track & Field teams and will be helping us with speed work.
One important decision, agreed upon by the team, was to participate in the giant Manhattan College Invitational race on Columbus Day weekend in October.  This annual race has over 9000 runners from 300 teams competing in 40 different races. We last went two years ago and had a fantastic time.