Behind the scenes: Dr. Phil O’Leary and Luke Werner

Thursday, March 30, 2000 | 8:23 a.m.

DR. PHIL O'LEARY / Track & Field Official

Contribution to prep sports: O'Leary has been a track official since moving to Las Vegas 11 years ago. He also currently assigns all track officials for Southern Nevada prep meets. "I like being outside, working with the kids, seeing how they progress," he said. O'Leary works as part of a four-person crew, with duties split up as follows: a starter who fires the gun to signal the start of races, a lead timer who coordinates the efforts of all volunteer timers, a clerk who checks in all participants and a finish line recorder who records all positions at the completion of a race. O'Leary has been involved in high school athletics since 1955, when he coached track, football, baseball and basketball in Michigan -- for the lump sum of $300. To this day, he enjoys watching track & field thrive in Southern Nevada. "I see a lot more participation, especially at schools with good support from parents," he said. "Last Friday I worked at the Mesquite Invitational and there were over 1,100 runners there. That's encouraging."

LUKE WERNER / Clark High Volunteer

Contribution to prep sports: Werner has been a fixture at Clark track and football events since 1974, when then-track coach Larry Barnson helped him get involved with the program. "I mostly do starting blocks," he said. "I help set up the blocks for all the different events. And I cheer on the team. I love my job." Werner was recently inducted into the Southern Nevada Track Coaches Hall of Fame for his efforts. "Everybody within a 100 miles of here who has anything to do with track knows him," Chargers boys track coach Carl Williams said. "I've been here 10 years, and I've made a concerted effort to make sure he's included in everything I'm coaching. I make sure Luke is on every bus that I'm on, and I make sure the kids respect him. He's a wonderful friend, one of the most loyal people you'd ever meet."