Experience key to Pittsville’s Chris Snook’s sprint to state

LA CROSSE - Across many sports, athletes playing in their second seasons sometimes fall victim to the sophomore slump — when the athlete fails to live up to the results they posted in their first seasons. 

For Pittsville track athlete Chris Snook, who qualified for the Division 3 state meet in the 400 as a freshman, it was a completely different outcome in his second year of competition.

Snook not only qualified in the 400 for a second straight season, but will also compete in the 100 and 200 in the 2017 State Track & Field Championships at Veterans Memorial Stadium Complex on Friday and Saturday. 

At last year’s state meet, Snook took 13th in the 400 preliminaries, failing to qualify for the final with a time of 52.44. 

Despite not finishing as well as he hoped, the youngster remained positive and focused on the experience as a whole. After an offseason that included both basketball and plenty of training to make a return trip to state, Snook returns to the state scene.

This time around, Snook said he believes a better finish is in sight due to his state experience last year.

“(Competing at state in 2016) makes it easier because I know what it feels like to compete at state,” Snook said.

Instead of a decline in production after a positive freshman season, Snook turned into one of the top sprinters in the state as a sophomore. In fact, heading into this year’s state meet, the sophomore owns the top seed times in the 100 and 400 and the third best seed time in the 200. 

Snook earned those top seed times at the Rosholt sectional, where he took first place in the 100 (11.16) and 400 (50.84) while taking second in the 200 (22.96). 

Despite the top seed times, Snook knows the numbers do not mean a lot when the starting gun signals the start of an event. He instead chooses to focus on the basics to improve his performance in each event. 

“I'm feeling confident and focusing on getting out of the blocks fast, especially in the 100,” Snook said. “I'm seeded first, but that doesn't mean I'm going to take first.”

Coaches Alix Madden and Taylor Molitor have noticed Snook’s ability to learn from his past experiences and believe that is what allows him to be so successful with each meet he participates in.

Snook is improving daily because of his ability to take his experiences and grow from them, Madden and Molitor said. 

While it’s easy to focus on the present, it’s hard not to imagine what Snook could accomplish in his final years of high school. 

While this state meet offers Snook an opportunity to showcase his talents and participate in a new learning experience, don’t expect him to slow down even if he can capture a state title this weekend. 

Snook said he believes a first-place finish could be just the motivation he needs in training for his future on the track.

“(Winning a state title) would mean the world to me,” Snook said. “It will help me in the future because I know that if I want something I can achieve it. I would like to finish first in at least one event. Top four is my goal for all the events."

Snook will begin his quest of earning a state title by competing in the prelims of the 100, 200 and 400 on Friday. The top 10 times in each sprint will advance to the finals on Saturday.

Morgan Rode can be reached at 715-345-2258, or by email at mrode@gannett.com. Find him on Twitter as @MRode23.