Youth track & field begins soon: Head Coach Simon Moll is ready!

The Groton Recreation (Groton Rec) Youth Track & Field program for third- through sixth-grade students will begin Wednesday, April 30. That may seem like a long way off, but it will be here before we know it, and Simon Moll, head coach for the program, is already looking forward to it!

Moll grew up in Australia and came to the area to earn his Ph.D. at Cornell University. He met his wife, Monica, at Cornell, and they have lived in Groton since 2021 on their 35-acre, self-sustaining homestead with their children, Liesl (seventh grade) and Oliver (fifth grade).

Initially, Simon was a private running coach for adults, and then he volunteered to coach Groton Rec’s youth cross-country program in fall 2022. Since then, he has coached for the Groton Project running club, founded by Scott Weeks, who has been the health teacher and cross-country and track-and-field coach for Groton Central School (GCS) for the past 30 years.

Weeks had been Groton Rec’s youth track-and-field head coach for 15 years until Simon took the reins in 2023. Simon is also currently coach for GCS’s varsity boys track-and-field and modified cross-country teams.

”Scott [Weeks] has put in so much time, effort and his own personal resources into establishing and maintaining these programs over many years, that he deserves our admiration, as well as Groton Rec for their continued support of our running programs,” Simon said.

Weeks is still involved in helping to coach, and Simon also brings in students from the varsity and modified teams to help instruct and supervise the youth. Simon explained that he thinks some of the high school athletes are in some ways better equipped to teach because they are closer in age to the younger athletes and actively compete in the things being taught.

The youth program is diverse in its offerings. In addition to simply running, there are stations set up such as relay races, shot put, long jump, high jump, hurdles and sprints. Three or four of those concentrations are set up at each practice, which the student-athletes monitor for about 15 minutes per station.

“We also teach other things, such as how to use starting blocks, what the lines on the track mean and some games such as ‘sharks and minnows,’’’ Simon explained. “Those games help [the youth] learn things like agility, speedwork and acceleration. They don’t realize they’re learning because they’re having fun!”

On a personal level, Simon runs 10 to 12 miles a day. There are seven major world marathon races, which, for those not familiar, are 26.2 miles long. Simon has run in the New York City, Boston, BMW Berlin and Chicago marathons, and he will run in the London Marathon in April. That only leaves Tokyo and Sydney, but it would not be surprising if those are in Simon’s future.

“I love competition and pushing myself to find out what my limits are and what I’m capable of doing,” Simon said. “I love what running has done for me and the discipline involved. I’d like to instill that sense of taking care of one’s physical and mental health in these kids to continue throughout their lives.”

Simon is looking forward to the youth season, which will meet on the GCS track, 400 Peru Rd., from 5 to 6 p.m. every Wednesday from April 30 through the end of June. Fliers with registration information will be handed out in mid-April at school, but interested youth may also contact Groton Rec at grotonnyrecreation.com or via email at recreation@grotonny.org.

There will also be two track-and-field meets this summer: one on Tuesday, June 17, and one on Saturday, July 19, that will be competitive for athletes across the region of all ages and abilities. These will be held in the evening, and Simon will supply details when they become available.

“Running is hard and uncomfortable, but it’s important to learn how to handle discomfort,” Simon said. “If we only ran on the days we felt great, we’d never run at all. Likewise, life throws up challenges, and we have to face them even when we don’t feel like it. Running is a great analogy for life and in confronting the uncomfortable. I don’t much care if I create competition-quality athletes, but if I can teach the kids this, I’d be happy!”

Groton on the Inside appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Submit story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com or text or call Linda at 607-227-4922. 

In brief:

Calling all GHS Drama Club alumni!

The Groton High School (GHS) Drama Club’s production of “Seussical the Musical” will hit the stage, 400 Peru Rd., March 20, 21, and 22 at 7 p.m. nightly. All drama club alumni are encouraged to attend to celebrate Annette Twitchell’s 20th year of GHS musicals. Wear your senior — or any show — T-shirt!

For tickets, contact Kelly Bishop at kbishop@grotoncs.org, call 607-898-5803 between 3 and 4:30 p.m. weekdays, or purchase at the door. Tickets cost $10 for general admission, $5 for ages 10 and under.

GFD pancake breakfast

The Groton Fire Department & Ambulance will host an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast at its new station on Main Street from 7 to 10 a.m. Sunday, March 23. Pancakes, toast, bacon, sausage, hash browns and made-to-order eggs are on the menu at $13 per adult and $10 per child 5-10 years old. Children under five may eat free.

Time for tee-ball!

Groton Recreation is gearing up for the tee-ball season. Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students will play from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Saturdays, beginning April 26, at Groton Elementary School fields. Players register at grotonnyrecreation.com. Coaches are also needed! Email recreation@grotonny.org to volunteer.