LOCH SHELDRAKE -- The sharp report of the starting gun echoes through the Paul Gerry Fieldhouse at SUNY Sullivan as the first wave of sprinters and hurdlers race 55 meters as coaches check their stop watches to note times. And so it begins, the grueling, arduous task of the indoor track season for the cadre of runners, jumpers and throwers, many of whom use the indoor season as a requisite tune up for the vaunted spring track season, the crowning event for the relatively few three season runners who began their quest in cross-country this fall.

Most of the indoor track athletes were busy playing soccer or football in the fall and some will go on to baseball, softball or golf this spring. But most of those competing in this first developmental meet will be on hand this spring. Teams from Tri-Valley, Ellenville, Fallsburg, Liberty, Monticello and Eldred participated on Wednesday. Only Sullivan West was missing from this first of many encounters to come. Monticello is fielding its largest team in years, while other teams showed impressive numbers including Tri-Valley and Ellenville. Fallsburg's team has grown significantly in size from last year.

The real tests of noteworthy times, heights and distances will be at the West Point meets, those vital run-ups to the OCIAA, Sectionals, state qualifier and for the few elite, a chance to compete at Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island at this year's state championship in March. The journey has begun and a quick look around the field house availed an observer of the diverse talent that is ready to be honed. Stay tuned for up-to-the-minute coverage as indoor track shares the headlines with the other winter enterprises including basketball, skiing and wrestling.