Freeman track and field coach John Hays, speedy seniors will leave together

John Hays has coached some gifted track and field athletes in his 32-year career at Freeman.

None has been as fast, collectively, as his five senior sprinters.

Head coach the last 25 years, Hays plans to step aside at season’s end. He said it’s no coincidence he’s leaving at the same time as Alyssa Zimmerman, AnnaBelle Schweiger, Tessa Gilbert, Madison Rubright and Rachel Arnzen.

If his sprinters were juniors, the 58-year-old Hays would put off his resignation.

“I’ve watched them since they were seventh-graders and they were dominating then,” Hays said. “They’ve been the heart of the team.”

Zimmerman, Schweiger and Rubright were on the eighth-grade 1,600-meter relay that finished with the second-best time in the state.

The three, along with Gilbert, hope to end their careers in two weeks with a State 1A championship.

Schweiger, Gilbert, Rubright and then-freshman Hannah Watts combined to take second at state last year in a school-record 4 minutes, 4.67 seconds. Watts was filling in for Zimmerman, whose season was cut short by injuries.

Zimmerman, the fastest among the sprinters, is back but not completely healthy. She’s been slowed by plantar fasciitis in her right heel.

She had a cortisone shot last week and the foot is responding.

“It’s still bad and it hurts to walk on it,” Zimmerman said. “When I run, I have enough adrenaline that it’s not too bad.”

Zimmerman, who holds school records in the 200 (26.2) and 400 (59.43), isn’t going to do the open events at the state-qualifying district meet next week.

“If I’d been healthy, I’d do them,” Zimmerman said.

Her focus is on helping the 400, 800 and 1,600 relays qualify for state and bring back medals.

Zimmerman has been seemingly more injured than in top form most of her four years. Hays is amazed by her perseverance.

She watched the 1,600 relay take second at state last year and wondered what could have been if she had been running.

“It was miserable, but I was happy for them,” Zimmerman said.

Hays said the 1,600 relay foursome would have likely had a shot to eclipse 4 minutes had Zimmerman not been injured. He’s hopeful they can do so in two weeks when the state meet is at Eastern Washington University.

“We’ve never run at full strength at state,” Schweiger said. “It’s rare to find this many (seniors) who make an incredible team.”

Zimmerman teamed with Gilbert, Schweiger and freshman Ysabella Panzeri to set the record in the 800 relay (1:47.59) last month.

Schweiger, Zimmerman and Gilbert, along with a fourth leg to be determined, hope to break the school record in the 400 relay (51.4).

Arnzen serves as insurance as the alternate on the three relays.

The sprinters should challenge for state titles in the 800 and 1,600 relays.

Schweiger also will do the 300 hurdles. She missed qualifying for the state finals by .03 last year, and she is ranked third in the state.

She not only wants to make the finals but place high.

Schweiger resisted doing the hurdles at first.

“I’m so glad (Hays) convinced me to do them,” Schweiger said.

Gilbert, too, has been bothered by injuries, particularly in her hips. After a difficult sophomore season, she abandoned open events for the relays.

“I thought focusing on a common goal for my team would be more beneficial and less selfish,” Gilbert said.

Gilbert will do all three relays at district.

Rubright, who is going to be a cheerleader in football, volleyball and basketball at EWU, brings a middle-distance strength to the 1,600 relay. She has been on the relay all four years, including when it placed sixth at state in 2014 and fifth in 2015.

The seniors will be out to give Hays some nice retirement gifts at state.

“He’s been a great coach and made us competitive with each other and better runners,” Zimmerman said.

“After middle school, I was unsure about track,” Gilbert said. “I didn’t enjoy it and didn’t have self-confidence. He built my self-esteem and made me believe I could do well.”

Years from now, Hays will recall his seniors fondly.

“All the records are great, but you don’t often get a group of athletes like this that give you such dedication and leadership and hold your team together,” Hays said. “They make the sport special.”