By Tanya Cheatham, MA, PCA
To say Coach Doug Werner is excited about his track club’s fast-approaching outdoor season is an understatement! A select traveling track and field club of Klamath Falls, High Altitude is small in numbers but great in tradition and heart. The team is known for their strong work ethic and feel that their successes have come from their dedication to commitment. When asked what his favorite motto was, Coach Werner stated, “If you can optimize, optimize one hundred, percent of the time.” He further claims the saying “If it aint’ broke don’t’ fix it” is in stark contrast to this belief on doing your best and working on all areas to gain an advantage, rising to the occasion every time. The passionate coach also places great emphasis on being technically savvy and having good mechanics, which is an associated benefit of being under his direction.
The track club is a USATF member which allows for the following age brackets: 8 and under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18, U20, Juniors, and Masters in all events to include cross country and indoor season. The team has already built a legacy of winning, as past member Ben Carringer and hometown star athlete for HATC and Mazama currently has multiple prospective college recruiting programs looking at him, demonstrating the talent that lies hidden right here in Southern Oregon. Over the years, the team has made quite a name for itself throughout the state competitively and this has created a tradition that reflects positively on Klamath Falls. Not to mention, a past 4x100 meter relay which held the number seven spot in the nation, among other high rankings from individual members that represented the club well and set up a pattern of excellence. Despite the poor media coverage and lack of sponsorships that exist, the track team remains hopeful that they will thrive as they have managed to do since formation in 2015. Coach Werner also strives to provide opportunities for the athletes to be recruited by college coaches as the Klamath Basin area typically does not have a lot of press which can make scholarship opportunities challenging for college hopefuls wanting a chance to compete after high school.
High Altitude athletes also devote a lot of time to service projects and character development initiatives. In addition, the athletes have assisted the elderly in Klamath with snow removal, yard upkeep, dump-runs, local chamber of commerce events, and home repairs in the past. The coach reflects on the concept of sowing good seeds and doing the right thing when he says, "I know that it will come back to us one day." Furthermore, the team's determination to work hard regardless of the weather or other obstacles, while remaining consistent and devoted, will prove to be the team's distinguishing quality. Follow High Altitude Track and Field Club on Facebook to learn about upcoming competitions, results, fundraising events, announcements, sponsorship opportunities, and more. The squad is now accepting new runners and field athletes of all ages and has a few open positions on various relays. Coach Werner is enthusiastic about where the team will reach its peak and has set his sights higher than the altitude!
