Track and field teams provide an outlet for athletes with varying skills and interests. Runners (including hurdlers), jumpers (including pole vaulters), and throwers each have their niche on the squad, and some versatile competitors participate in a variety of events both on the track and in the field.

Then there are those decathletes. The decathlon is such a grueling event — really a series of events — that the winner in the Olympics traditionally has earned the distinction of the world’s greatest athlete.

Cole Terry, who is heading into his senior year at Newtown High School, is among the best decathletes in Connecticut, and his success comes from a combination of hard work, skill, determination, and — oh yeah — let’s not forget about dad.

Bob Terry, Cole’s father, while at Masuk High in Monroe, won the state decathlon championship in 1983. This past spring, Cole finished ninth in Connecticut and, as the second-highest placing junior in the event, as well as having finished as the top sophomore the year prior, is certainly in the running to capture the championship this coming spring.

The two-day decathlon comprises the 100 meter run, long jump, shot-put, high jump, 400 meter run; and on day two the 110 meter hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw, and 1500 meter run.

“It was draining,” said Cole, noting that each day of the event lasts about eight hours between competition time and breaks. “I was really sore.”

Bob is a coach with Newtown High’s squad, and has the opportunity to coach his son. He may be 50 years old, but that hasn’t stopped Bob from continuing to compete in track and field. He’s participated in Nutmeg State Games and Masters Games throughout the years.

Not only do Bob and Cole compete in track and field, but Cole’s sister, Kayla, also runs track.

Bob says he’s pleased with the fact his children want to participate in track and field, as he never had any intent to push them into it.

“It was cool that they got excited about track by just watching me rather than me pushing them into it,” Bob said.

The entire family competed in the Nutmeg State Games a few years ago. Bob’s wife, Tracy, is athletic — she hikes and mountain bikes, and participated in the Connecticut Challenge — but gave running a go as part of an all-in Terry decision to participate in the games. What’s more, each of the Terrys took home gold medals in the age category-based games.

The track and field community camaraderie — “I just think the people are great,” Bob says — makes for enjoyment regardless of how well the athletes do.

Although athletes are going against each other, they’re mostly competing to better their own times or distances, Bob notes.

“You’re really competing against the clock or a tape measure,” Bob adds.

Back On Track

After college, Bob helped coach in the Masuk program and got busy working, and starting a family. Then, he got the itch to compete again, and signed up for the Nutmeg State Games in 2008, and has competed in two to four meets per year since.

“I knew if I committed to a meet I’d have to work myself back into shape,” Bob said. “When I got back into it, I didn’t realize how much I did miss it.”

Injuries have prevented Bob from partaking in some of the competitions he’s planned on entering into, giving him a new outlook on participation in track and field.

“I don’t think that you try to improve every year as much as you try to stay healthy every year,” he explains. “You’ve got to really find a way to strike a balance as you get older.”

“It’s definitely inspiring,” Tracy, 51, said of her husband’s continued involvement in track and field.

Bob notes that he sees 90-something-year-old athletes setting records at Masters events and adds: “It’s pretty inspiring to see some of those people.”

Finding venues for practice isn’t as easy for a pole vaulter as it is for a runner, Bob points out. He has access to equipment at Newtown High.

“It’s a bit of a unique endeavor. It’s different but, at the same time, I like the fact it’s unique. It’s not something everybody does,” Bob said.

In fact, in some of the competitions, the 50-year-old has been the only competitor, or one of only few, in his age group. Then again, as pretty much any 50-year-old would attest, just competing at that age is in fact medal worthy.

Bob won multiple conference championships in the pole vault and 110 meter high hurdles events during his high school days. An All-American decathlete, Bob was third best high schooler in the Junior Nationals. He went on to earn All Ivy honors in pole vaulting at Dartmouth College. His Masters Games achievements include top ten rankings in the United States for pole vault, long jump, and 110 high hurdles, and a 17th place ranking in the javelin throw. Bob’s highest Masters world ranking is 14th in the pole vault. He’s collected more than three dozen medals in various events, and is the Nutmeg Games age group record holder in the pole vault and high jump, and a Masters Games champion in the pole vault and long jump.

Kayla, who will be a freshman at Newtown High this fall, has done mainly field events in youth track, and looks forward to competing with the Nighthawks.

Kayla hopes to work her way up to the heptathlon, the girls’ track and field competition that encompasses the following seven events: 100 meter hurdles, high jump, shot-put, 200 meters, long jump, javelin throw, and 800 meters.

“It helps with other sports and it’s really fun to interact with everybody and try different things,” said Kayla, who is also a ballet dancer.

Bob notes that Cole is becoming such a strong track and field athlete that he’s recording better times, distances, and heights — in some events. “It’s fun to have him beat me now. That’s the way it should be,” Bob said.

Cole has recorded strong finishes in the South-West Conference and state championships for both winter indoor and spring outdoor track and field during his career at NHS. He set the indoor high jump record with a jump of six feet during his junior campaign.

“I think its’ great — it’s admirable,” Tracy said of the fact her husband still competes. “I love the fact [Cole’s] following in his dad’s footsteps and [Kayla’s] going to as well.”