Middle School Sports - Spring Track

Information about participating in cross country and track

MS Athletes will need the following to participate in Track in the Spring:

More information will be shared at the meeting on what is needed to participate, practice start dates and meets. A parent meeting will be held in March for all parents of students that are interested in participating in Track. All students that ran Cross Country this fall are already eligible to participate in Track in the spring.  More information can be found on the FCPS MS Athletics Website.

Schedule for Practices and Meets

  • Practices will begin the week of March 11 (Mondays/Thursdays 2:30pm-3:45pm)
  • Practices will be two days a week.
  • MS Track Meet Dates:
    • April 13 - Langley
    • April 20 - McLean 
    • April 27 - NO MEET 
    • May 4 - Madison
    • May 11 -Centreville
  • Transportation will be provided to and from Franklin to all of the meet locations.
  • Franklin will participate in four of the Track Meet Dates. 

Athlete Attire

Athletic Attire must adhere to the FCPS Dress Code Policy

  • Practices
    • Appropriate T-shirt/Sweatshirts
    • Appropriate Shorts/Sweatpants
    • Athletic Footwear/Running Shoes

NOTE: No student athlete will be allowed to be shirtless or wear mid-drift tops or sport undergarments ONLY (i.e. sports bra or tank tops) during practice.

  • Meets
    • Uniform top (provided)
    • Appropriate Shorts/Sweatpants
    • Athletic Footwear/Running Shoes

Student Athlete Self-Care

Becoming a student-athlete provides an excellent chance to develop essential skills and habits that can help young individuals become more prepared and responsible as they progress in life. We encourage students to do the following:

  • Hydrate
  • Stretch
  • Cardio workout on your own 1-2 days a week.
  • Appropriate nutrition
  • Sleep
  • Time management
  • Access Village support (parents, family members, counselors, trusted adults, couches, etc.)

Competitions

There are four track meets this Spring. Athletes will be competing in the following events for Spring Track.

  • 100m
  • 200m
  • 400m
  • 800m
  • 1600m
  • Shot Put
  • Long Jump

 SAAP is contracting a timing company to assist with meet management. Certified Athletic Trainers will be onsite for meets.

Franklin Athletics Leadership will be responsible for communicating all competition information to the team, including transportation details.

Meets are on Saturdays. Anticipate 2 heats (Boys/Girls) each race. Also anticipate departure time to return to Franklin to be roughly 2-3 hours after arrival.

Athletic Coordinator Barlow and Coach McMahon's Student Expectations

  1. Always have water at practices.
  2. Show up to train.
  3. Wear appropriate clothes and running shoes.
  4. Form bonds with teammates and help others succeed.
  5. Attend practices weekly  *Four practices total before your first meet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do students go for practice?

When the dismissal bell rings, on practice days, students should report to the cafeteria by 2:35 p.m. to meet Coach Barlow and Coach McMahon. Students will be required to sign in as part of the After-School Program.

Where should I pick up my student from practice?

Students who are walkers or have parent transportation will exit the building out of Door #1 at 4 p.m. If students are being picked up, they will go to kiss and ride.

How do you select which students compete?

Cross Country/Track is a NO CUT SPORT, so all students can compete. Students will be selected by the coach to participate in the race discipline that fits best for them.

How long will the meets last?

Cross Country -Anticipate departure time to return to Franklin to be roughly 2 hours after arrival. 

Track - Times will vary depending on arrival at the host school. 8-10 teams will be competing at each track meet.

Does my child have to ride the bus to meets?

Yes. To encourage camaraderie and build team spirit, we require all meet participants to ride the bus. However, we recognize that weekends can be busy with other activities and we are willing to make exceptions on occasions, if a parent reaches out in advance.

For additional questions: You are welcome to email your questions to Kelly Barlow @email or Chris Tippins @email.