The start of a new track and field season at Paly brings with it a training staff comprised of several new coaches.

One such coach is Nick Vanderburg, who helps train Paly’s sprinters.

Vanderburg ran for Mountain View High School and San Diego State University. In San Diego, Vanderburg coached semi-pro football players and sprinters.

Vanderburg brings to Paly’s team the training technique of plyometrics, a form of power training which is designed to target the lengthening and shortening of the muscle and thus allow the muscle to exert a great amount of force in a short amount of time.

“Plyometrics wasn’t really pursued until the mid-90s,” Vanderburg said, “so I’m part of the first generation to really become used to those techniques.”

Brandon Shalkowski is another new coach to the team this year, who “decided to coach at Palo Alto because it was an opportunity to work with a lot of great coaches and student athletes,” Shalkowski said. “The school has an excellent reputation for the quality of its athletics.”

Shalkowski threw shotput and discus throughout his high school career. Although he helped coach Paly’s football team during its 2007 season, this year marks his first coaching track and field. After several weeks coaching Paly’s team, Shalkowski already sees much promise in its throwers.

“I think there is a lot of talent and some great athletes who have a lot of potential to become good throwers,” Shalkowski said. “I predict a successful year.”

Due to a new arrangement to track and field practice this year which merges many of Castilleja’s and Paly’s team practices together, two coaches from Castilleja are also helping to coach Paly’s track and field athletes.

One of those coaches is Amanda Trotter, who helps train Castilleja’s and Paly’s girl distance runners.

Trotter holds an extensive athletic career: after running for her high school in New Jersey, where she set state and national records in distance running, among many other achievements, Trotter joined Stanford’s cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field team. The list of her accomplishments at Stanford merely starts with her assistance in garnering the Cardinal several national championships.

Trotter’s goals for the team this year are to see its members progress and adhere to wholesome practices.

“I’d like to see everyone improve and get PR’s [personal records],” Trotter said. “I’d also like to instill in the girls some good habits, like sleeping habits, eating habits, and being healthy in general. Most importantly, though, I want the girls to be athletic.”

Tom Allen is another coach for Castilleja who is helping coach Paly runners, mainly those in the mid-distance group, this year as well.

Prior to becoming a coach, Allen ran for Gunn High School and U.C. Berkeley. He was then introduced to a coaching opportunity on Castilleja’s cross country and track and field team, and has been coaching the Casti Gators for three years.

“A family friend was running for Castilleja and they needed a coach so I did it,” Allen said. “I figured I would only do it for a season, but it was a lot of fun so I have stayed on.”

Allen is optimistic about the 2008 track and field season, and sees the Castilleja and Paly joint training as beneficial.

“I think there is a ton of talent for both schools in the mid-distance events,” Allen said. “Our girls have less experience than the Paly girls, but I think that they can get a lot better by training with Paly.”

This year’s track and field athletes are sure to benefit from the addition of four brand new coaches, each bringing his or her own unique background and training techniques, to the coaching staff.