Christian Adair had a plan when he took over as track and field coach at Western Hills.
It’s worked out perfectly.
Adair has been named the Class 2A girls Coach of the Year by the Kentucky Track and Cross Country Coaches Association.
“When I first came here there wasn’t much interest in track and field,” he said. “There wasn’t a middle school program. Middle schoolers ran for the high school team, but they didn’t have their own Bondurant team.
“I talked to (Bondurant principal) Mr. Gaby and we got uniforms for the team,” Adair said. “We started the program, and I knew eventually they’d be in high school.
“I wanted to create a buzz at the middle school level. That was my whole intention.”
Adair just completed his fourth year as WHHS head track coach, and interest in the program has grown.
The varsity team had larger numbers when he started, but most were Bondurant students running for Western Hills.
“That first year I had four girls who were in high school and six boys,” Adair said. “Now it’s about 20 each who are from the high school itself.”
Last month WHHS won the girls Class 2A state championship despite being hampered by injuries during the season.
Kory Bradley and Kaitlin Jackson missed nearly the entire season with knee injuries, and at various times Harper Jones, Alaina Hall and Alisha Adair were hurt.
“You saw a lot of tape at the state meet,” Christian Adair said. “That was a precaution and to help them mentally.
“No one ran with injuries. There was some soreness, and they were hurt previously. Alisha said the tape made her feel more comfortable.”
Adair was careful not to run people who were injured.
“We backed off,” he said. “We didn’t run them too much. We did other exercises, other weight training, and we talked it out. There were a lot of conversations where they encouraged each other.”
It all paid off at the state meet.
“We asked them to do what they’re supposed to do,” Adair said. “We didn’t expect them to do something they’d never done. Just be you and we’ll be good. Our best can compete with anybody.”
This year WHHS had just two middle school students compete on the girls varsity team – Jenna Harrod and Alissa May. May competed at the state meet in the discus throw and won that event at the state middle school championships.
The Lady Wolverines graduated just one athlete – Sammie Rowe – off this year’s girls team.
“Next year we should be better of course, hopefully,” Adair said, “but injuries are always something you have to think about.”
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