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Page 14 â€" Waterioo Chronicle, Wednesday, April 10.197, When I asked those seveh members of the Kitchenerâ€"Waâ€" terloo Minor Track and Field club what they thought of their coach Pete Grinbergs last Thursday night, they bellowed in unison, as if rehearsed. By Rick Campbell Chronicie Sports Editor It was a welcome response from a group of kids who had been suspiciously quiet when talking about themselves only minutes earlier. *43 s ‘‘*He‘s miserable!"‘ Of course that comment came shortly after Grinbergs had put them through their second practice of the spring indoors at Moses Springer Arena. And except for 16â€"yearâ€"old WCI student Jenny Schroeder, the aches and pains from Monday‘s first practice were beâ€" ginning to return as reminders that although running is fun, nothing in the sport comes easy. Unlike the others, Schroeder is a veteran runner who trained all winter. "‘*At this time of year we stress flexibility and work into our program slowly," said Grinbergs. "Basically our proâ€" gram involves simulated running exercises, sprints, strength exercises and flexibility to generally get the runâ€" ners in shape."‘ > A startling lack of publicity is the major reason why there are only seven runners out on this night at Moses Springer, but Grinbergs is quick to explain. o â€" *‘The club originally started out at Seagram Stadium but about seven years ago moved to Centennial in Kitchener. What people don‘t realize is that we still have the facilities to work here in Waterloo â€" all these kids are from this city. We want runners to know Kâ€"W Track is also here in Waâ€" terloo. All they have to do is come out to a practice. We‘ll be glad to have them." Grinbergs admitted that the club has an understanding with high schools to basically maintain a ‘"handsâ€"off"‘ policy until the various collegiate meets are over, thus eliminating confusion over coaching techniques. So most of the runners this night are between 12â€"14, and all are girls, except for a 10â€"yearâ€"old bundle of dynamite named Dean DeSilva. During the alternating sprint sessions, the diminutive gradeâ€"five student at St. Michael‘s school indulges in male chauvinism by refusing to be outdistanced by even the smoothâ€"running Schroeder. ‘*Dean is just a super kid,"" said Grinbergs. ie came out tonight and I asked him if he was stiff from Monday. He said you better believe it but that the hot bath helped."‘ _ When the Waterloo group moves outside to Seagram Staâ€" dium, Linda Kieswetter will take charge of the juniors (under 12) while Grinbergs will work with those 12 and up. *‘The whole idea is to develop a disciplined program inâ€" volving a lot of work on your own," said the coach. ‘"The results we hope to achieve are enjoyment and selfâ€"disâ€" cipline, which is important for those who intend to continue running on their own." Andfr Heal of Elmira is Kâ€"W Track‘s head coach in Kitchener, where competition is prevalent if not stressed. In Waterloo. the attitude is totally up to the individual. As a It‘s windâ€"down time for these members of Kâ€"W Track as they go through relaxing calesthenics after Thursday‘s workout. Kâ€"W Track Club alive in Waterioo Members of the Kâ€"W Track Club are put through their paces by coach Pete Grinbergs (background). Dean DeSilva (tar right) claimed shyness for the reason why he tried to evade the camera. to a practice ‘"All they have come out to do is 9 J CHRONICLE SPORTSâ€"LINE result, some Waterloo runners, like WCI‘s Mike Houston, have chosen the more rigorous Kitchener program to imâ€" prove their competitive level, while Schroeder admitted Thursday she is more interested in "getting better‘‘ at the individual level. ‘‘The first time I ran the 400 I was terrified when I found out I had to sprint the whole circle of the track," she said with a chuckle. Schroeder, who bears a striking resemblance to Olivia Newtonâ€"John, started running hurdles at MacGregor public school three years ago but has since switched to the 400â€"meâ€" tre specialty. Her best time in the event is 62.8 recorded in practice last summer and Schroeder‘s immediate goal is to break 60 seâ€" conds. ‘‘I feel good now because I‘ve been running on my own throughout the winter. The hardest patt wasn‘t the runnin it was getting out of the warm house on those cold daysz."i Right now the Waterioo group, which trains Mondays Thursdays from 56:30 p.m., is concentrating on middle disâ€" tance and sprint events, but will also train field competitors (high jump etc.) at Seagram‘s. Grinbergs hopes to have a wave of runners join up in the next couple of weeks, espeâ€" cially guys who are still shaking off the effects of a long hockey season. One of the main reasons why DeSilva joined is to improve leg strength and endurance for hockey. The little buzzâ€"saw had his name splashed all over the Chronicle this past winter as one of the top players on the major atom Tim Horâ€" ton Cubs. ‘‘We fractice at what you would call offâ€"hours, too,"" said Grinbergs. "So many of our kids combine track with other sports like soccer. They find it really helps their conditionâ€" ing."‘ Even Thursday she was still feeling the effects of Monâ€" day‘s initial practice. I started track and field at school last year," he said. "But I‘ve found out in two practices here I‘ve got a lot to learn about running. I really like the shorter distances, I like to sprint." Because most of the runners are new to each other, the joking and idle banter are as yet missing from the group as they are interviewed. Then Schroeder breaks the ice. Like so many of the others, 13â€"yearâ€"old Beth Merikle Lincoln Heights started running at her school but joined W Track this year to "be better than I am now." â€" ‘‘*Sore? I was dead after practice. but I know I‘m improvâ€" ing because of it." In walks coach Grinbergs to tell everyone to map out one and two mile training courses. Except for Schroeder, who must make up one for three miles. Exit Grinbergs‘ Do we have friendly competition? Are you kidding? Dean gives me all the competition I can handle." ‘‘See. we told you he‘s miserable,"‘ pouts Olivia Newtonâ€" John, as everyone else breaks out in howling laughter. Joke. joke. Idle banter. Good to see.