It’s cold outside, but Old Rochester Regional High School’s winter track program is heating up.

On Dec. 2, about 120 track athletes, boys and girls, made an appearance in the high school gymnasium in new running shoes and sweatshirts.

“The start of this season is exciting! There are so many new faces,” Bill Tilden, the boys track head coach.

Since the spring of 1999, Tilden has coached the ORR track team. His wife Cindy coaches the girls track team and also helps with the boys’ workouts.

“We try and break the workouts into smaller groups and individualize depending on goals, time, ability, and injuries. Cindy spends a considerable amount of time each day designing the workouts,” Bill said.

With such a large squad, the two coaches will be figuring out the individual athletes strengths.

“There are so many kids on the team. The hardest part will be to determine which event is best for which athletes,” Cindy said.

Although a large team presents complications, there’s no shortage of talent.

Looking forward to Saturday’s meet against Diman High School, Bill said:

“Many have too high expectations for the first meet of the season. We just want them to get out healthy and maybe see a few surprises.”

That meet isn’t part of league competition, but the coaches take full advantage of it by putting athletes in different events to see where they excel.

ORR’s first meet will take place at New Bedford Vocational Technical High School on Saturday, Dec 14 at 1 p.m. against Diman High School.