Hempfield Versus JP McCaskey Track & Field!!!

The anticipation was felt at the stadium! The athletes, coaches, family & fans waited for the the 3200 relay to begin and they were not disappointed!  A great meet, with amazing results, a typical battle of the athletes of two of the best programs in Lancaster County and the state of Pennsylvania!

The track & field tradition at McCaskey goes back many years, led by past Olympian Barney Ewell!

Hempfield'd tradition over over fifty years has built upon this rivalry & developed into a premier track & field program.  And recently, Hempfield has been able to win not one, but TWO PIAA State Track & Field Championships!

This week will will focus on the rivalry and try to help define what goes into making this such a great event!  Today we will start with the coaches.

Hempfield's Curt Rogers & McCaskey's Carl Frederick have many similar traits!  This is one reason both programs have continued to thrive!

Trait #1 - Both are Track & Field enthusiasts!  Both men were great high school track & field athletes, spent many years as an assistant track & field coach in each program & then became the head track & field coach!!!

Trait #2 - Both are graduates of the school that they coach!!  Curt, a Hempfield 1983 graduate was a track & field & football player!  Guess what!  Carl, was a McCaskey grad and, you got it, was on the track & field and football teams!!!

Trait #3 - Both are great Dads!  Carl has three fine sons & a very supportive wife, Bev!  And, you got, it, Curt has two awesome sons & a very supportive wife, Stacey!!!

And Trait #4, both men do a great job during the school day!  Carl, as a guidance counselor at the high school and Curt as a fifth grade elementary teacher!

So, they you have it!  Both Hempfield & McCaskey have coaches with a "tradition" of succesful track & field roots!