By Pat Ryan

Apr. 16, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) --
On Saturday, Butte High will play host to the annual Swede Dahlberg track meet at the Charlie Merrifield Track, where all the Class AA boys' teams, along with Class A Butte Central, will get a chance to see where they stand halfway through the season.

That's right. The spring track season is already half over when it hardly seems like it's even begun.

Track meet volunteer John Cohlhepp, who was busy perfecting his cement-finishing skills Tuesday afternoon in the long jump pit, said he was glad to see the season moving along.

"It's just that many less days we have to stand out here freezing," he quipped.

It has been a very cold spring season, and Tuesday was no exception. The concession stand did a brisk business in coffee and hot chocolate sales. On my second trip to the stand, I picked up two cups of coffee -- one for each frozen hand. I also spent more than my share of time under the stadium, trying to conserve a little body heat.

Mother Nature must have a See WEATHER, Page B6 strange sense of humor, giving us a nice couple days last weekend, then sticking us with the arctic blast on Tuesday.

One advantage of the chilly conditions at the track meet was that it was run very quickly. Organizers and workers at the Butte High meets already have the event down to an exact science, and when the weather demands, they can make things go even faster.

Last Saturday's dual meet at Helena Capital began at 10:30 a.m. and ended about the same time as the dual in Butte on Tuesday. Of course, Butte's meet didn't start until 3:15 p.m. It's amazing how athletes actually run slower in the cold, but the meets end quicker.

Helena boys' track coach Tony Arntson had no trouble keeping his athletes warm Tuesday. He just entered them all in the 400.

The Bengals have more than 120 boys out for track, and Arntson, who emphasizes the value of cross training, said it's not good to just throw the javelin.

"It's a privilege to get to run the 400," he told his charges, flashing a sly smile.

Next Saturday will see Great Falls host a track meet that focuses on Class AA girls, which should be very interesting for Bulldog fans. Butte High boasts many of the top marks in the state to this point, but the Bulldogs will be severely tested by powerful teams from Billings West and Flathead.

Butte track coaches have their eye on the future with a new program, "Wednesday night at the track," which begins tonight at Charlie Merrifield Track at Bulldog Memorial Stadium on the campus of East Middle School. (I love to say that.) The full details are in a story on page B2, but basically, this is a chance for Butte's elementary students in grades 1-6 to get out and get a little experience on the track. They also get some exercise and a chance to get some expert coaching.

It would be nice to see a good turnout, as the key to future success in track (and wrestling and basketball and baseball and volleyball ...) is plenty of practice and starting young.

And who knows, it might even warm up a little.

Up against the wall Last weekend's state singles handball tourney was a rousing success with 82 players -- about 20 more than signed up for last year's event -- showing up and competing.

Word at the tournament was that Montana's handball scene dwarfs those of surrounding states -- including Washington, which reportedly drew only a dozen players to its state tourney.

Of course, the average age of the handball player has been getting older and older, with numbers in the masters, golden masters, super golden masters and diamond masters divisions increasing steadily year to year. Still, there was a pretty good crop of younger guys in this year's event, which hopefully bodes well for the future of the sport.

One of Butte's "retired" handball players expressed his pleasant surprise that the sport hadn't folded entirely.

He hadn't counted on the younger crew that has picked up where the veterans left off. There aren't as many guys carrying on the handball tradition at the Elks club, but where they lack in numbers, they make up in quality.

Handball will be there for our kids, thanks to the crew at the Elks, who continue to carry the torch.

Thanks fellas.

-- Pat Ryan's column appears here on Wednesdays. Contact him at 496-5570 or Pat.Ryan@mtstandard.com.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0030-24550391