Lack of track facilities does not stop AIS from being competitive

Northside Neighbor, April 6, 2005

by Mike Rieman, Northside Neighbor Sports Editor

A makeshift track is spray painted onto the grass at Atlanta International High School. Lines 1, 2, 3 and 4 are painted in red, quite a contrast to the green grass.

Although the grass is mushy and muddy from recent rain, student athletes line up to get their practice in.

Despite the lack of facilities, AIS continues to be one of the top track teams in the state that does not have a track.

To date, AIS has beaten nine teams while losing to three in two compettions.

"It's not easy," admists AIS track coach and athletic director Hal Fairbanks of the limitations. "It's the difference between us and Class A schools that are better than us. I have the kids and I have the talent."

Sophomore pole vaulter Nick Beisert, a native of Brazil, is currently using a pole that just might be as old as him. The runway that he practices on was created by him and Fairbanks.

"I built this with coach," said a proud Beisert, who recently ordered a brand new pole.

The runway is made of dense rubber that used to be part of the elementary school's playground. When the maintenance crew put the rubber by the dumpster during recent renovations, Beisert had an idea.

"Coach and I went over there and loaded it up and brought it over here. It might not work for everyone but I like it," he said.

Two-time state champion shot putter and three-time state runner up discus thrower Aymerick Kolokiliagi, a native of [Wallis] Island, a French Polynesian colony, practices his throws from a piece of wood.

"As you can tell," he said, "we don't have a platform to throw off of," he said.

Runners and hurdlers such as sophomore Madeline Morton (state qualifier in 100 and 300 hurdles last season) and U.K. native, junior George Weeks (fourth in the state in the 800) get most of their work done either on the open field that is primarily used as a soccer field or around a man made 600 meter path that they have carved out for themselves.

Other runners such as junior Enrique Sanchez (fourth in state in the 3200), a native of Columbia, and junior Matthew Van Asten, a native of Brazil, get most of their training done on their own.

This season, Fairbanks feels that if the boys' team can get through a difficult region, a top five finish at state is not out of the question.

"It's not going to be easy, but if we can get through I think the boys are a top five team.

"This team is probably the best school without a track."