Green Bay Athlete Keeps Practicing, But the Season is on Hold

Runners: on your mark, get set, GO!

This time of the year, Carley Duffney, a junior at Preble High School, is normally getting set in her blocks, preparing to destroy the competition.  

Last year, Duffney qualified for the Wisconsin state track meet in the 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles. She took seventh in the 300-meter hurdles while breaking Preble High School’s record in the event, running a time of 45.84 seconds. 

Going into this season, she had her eyes on even bigger goals. Duffney wanted to beat her own school record and place top three in the state in her events. 

Before she had a chance to try, the spring season of track and field was interrupted by the pandemic, leaving her and her teammates with a lot of uncertainty. 

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Tony Evers issued a stay-at-home order that forced the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association to suspend competitions and practices for all spring sports. 

“My first thought was how badly I felt for the seniors,” said Duffney. “I was sad about missing a year, but for it to be your final year of high school and you don’t get to run one last time, I can’t even imagine.” 

One of Duffney’s teammates, Aubrie Gorski, is a senior track and field athlete who had goals for the season just as big. 

“I was definitely disappointed when I found out, there were a lot of records and goals I was hoping to reach that got cut short,” said Gorski. “I’m also disappointed for the freshman because they still have to wait another year to experience high school track and field.” 

Although Gorski’s senior year was cut short, she has still been working hard preparing for next year, when she will be competing at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee as a heptathlete and triple jumper. 

“I’ve been doing sprints, lots of drills and conditioning,” said Gorski. “Coach (Andrew) Basler from UWM has reached out to see how things have been going and how I feel about everything.”

The WIAA Board of Control met via video conference to discuss options for the rest of the season on April 22. The board voted to cancel all spring sports as well as extend unrestricted summer coaching opportunities for spring sports if the ban is lifted on the stay-at-home order.

The head coach of the girl’s track team at Preble High school, Jeff Klein, has been sending emails out to members of the team giving updates as well as his condolences on the cancelled season. 

According to Duffney, her hurdles coach has kept her practicing as if she were still in season in case the stay-at-home order is lifted on schedule. 

Duffney and Gorski have been practicing together every day, at Edison Middle School’s track. 

WIAA rules restrict coaches from being at any sort of practices during this time, so, the two athletes have been on their own. 

Their practices include stretching, a variety of sprint workouts ranging between 400 and 1000 meters and drills with hurdles that range from 40 to 300 meters. 

The extension of summer coaching gives athletes like Duffney and Gorski hope that they may get to compete in July. 

Athletes in spring sports are allowed 30 days of eligibility in July if the stay-at-home order is lifted. 

“I really hope we get the opportunity to compete,” said Duffney. “If we do, I’ll be ready.”