COLUMN: Award-winning XC, track coaches? MHS has three

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     Just in case we needed to be reminded, the Iowa Association of Track Coaches (IATC) Hall of Fame Banquet Saturday, Dec. 3 in Ames was another measure of the success Monticello’s cross country and track and field programs have achieved over the years.

     Three Monticello coaches were honored during the banquet. In each sport, gender, and class, there is an overall coach of the year and five at-large selections made.

     In cross country, Monticello’s Dan Sauser was named Class 2A girls’ coach of the year after the Panthers won their second girls’ state championship in three years. Sauser also had led four Monticello boys’ teams to state titles.

     For track and field, both Monticello head coaches were honored. Panther boys track and field coach Greg Williams and girls track coach Darren Reade were both named as at-large selections for the Coach of the Year award in Class 2A.

     Williams has led the Panthers to four state championships, including most recently in 2013 and 2014. Monticello was the 2A runner-up in 2016.

     Reade, last spring, guided the rising Monticello girls’ track team to a state third place finish in 2A – the highest finish for that team in school history.

     There are dozens of cross country and track programs across Iowa that would love to have even one coach of such stature.

     Monticello is truly blessed to have three.

Greyhound success story

     In a shocking development, I found myself watching simulcast horse and greyhound races at the Iowa Greyhound Park in Dubuque on a recent evening.

     On the wagering menu was a new greyhound track, Valley Race Park. The track, located in Harlington, Texas, has made a comeback after being “dark” for three years.

     I was stunned to overhear a guy at the Dubuque track that night who did nothing but complain about it.

     They only race three days a week, he said. Each card only has 10 races, he said. And the program consists only of maiden (for dogs who have never won) and juvenile (maiden race winner) races, he said.

     I wanted to go tell him that he should be thrilled that Valley is up and running again, that it represents – much like the IGP itself – a rare success story for a sport that regularly takes a media beating. (Of course, I didn’t.)

     Valley didn’t treat me particularly well that evening, but I’m thrilled to see it back.