00:00It's the start of the track and field season, but for some it might be over already.
00:05On Saturday, medical personnel were busy at the National Association of Athletics Administration's track and field meet.
00:12They were not participating in races, but they were sprinting.
00:24Over 15 athletes reported having sustained injuries while competing.
00:28Hamstring injuries, oh they were there for sure, but they were hip injuries too, calf strains and other accidents that sent athletes to the medic.
00:37Some admitted to entering the event nursing what they termed minor injuries that exploded in competition.
00:43However, is it common for so many injuries at the start of the season?
00:48Therapist Brent Elder is often called upon in such competitions to tend to athletes with such injuries, but even he was shocked at the number this time.
00:56Honestly, I wouldn't want to put a number, but I don't think you're looking to see that much because you are going into the season this early to still do some assessment and so on.
01:11Make sure, because you would have done your groundwork.
01:14So this is me actually raising the curtain to see where I'm at.
01:17And I don't think injury is going to be one of the parameters that you'll want to see where you're at.
01:22So for an athlete going into the season this early and getting injured, it means that some things were not done or mismanaged.
01:33That's a heavy number.
01:34So should you be concerned ahead of the Crifter Games and other regional meets?
01:39It's very early in the season.
01:40And for us to see that amount of pull-ups injury, that is absolutely concerning.
01:46Because we're not sure what's going to happen down the road.
01:50So absolutely concerning.
01:53At times it was difficult to tell if athletes were in fact pacing or injured.
01:57But what should the athletes that were injured do now?
02:00We had to do some deep introspection quickly because it means you're almost going to be losing a crop based on an injured injury.
02:09Because for some it might mean I might be able to recover.
02:12For some it might mean, hey, I have to walk away.
02:15I didn't get started, but that's the end game for me.
02:18Elder feels sometimes athletes are just tempted to go too fast and they are often betrayed by their egos.
02:24Hence the running till you drop a porch backfires at times at developmental meets.
02:29It is a developmental meet.
02:31Either I'm testing something right, let me go see a start.
02:35Let me see whether you're at the start of the race or the end of the race.
02:38So if you get through that part right, find the acceleration is good.
02:41You can take it easy post that.
02:42It may not be about the placing as opposed to with developing the athlete.
02:46Yes, everybody wants to finish strong, but at the same time I prefer you finish safe than finish strong.
02:51Elder believes an athlete's performance is a reflection of an entire team and as such the coaches, support staff, parents and the athlete must all do some reflection to prevent a reoccurrence.
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