Track season is a thrilling time for athletes, filled with the adrenaline rush of competition and the satisfaction of personal improvement. From the explosive starts of the sprints to the strategic pacing of long-distance races, track and field offers a diverse range of events that can boost a student’s athletic ability. The demanding training regiments build strength, endurance, and speed, which are needed for those grueling track meets. The relationship among teammates also grows and creates strong bonds that last for many seasons after. Beyond the physical challenges track requires, it takes a lot of mental strength as well; the ability to perform under pressure is a much-needed skill to have on and off the track. Furthermore, focusing on personal bests and achieving goals promotes self-confidence and a sense of accomplishment for the team, not to mention winning awards and medals.
“Currently I run the 400-meter dash and the 800-meter dash, my goals for this season are primarily to get more conditioning in and to just be overall better at my events, freshman year I did really well on the 100 dashes and I was really proud of myself so I guess I could say that’s a fond memory of track season for me, although right now we are just working on practicing and preparing for the upcoming season, I’m still working hard, I seriously think we have some good returning teammates like seniors and juniors, alongside some new freshman runners who really add to the plate”, said junior, Alex Garcia.
A little rundown on the 400-meter dash and the 800-meter dash, otherwise known as the quarter-mile The 400m is a brutal test of track power, requiring an explosive start off to continue high endurance, it requires a lot of high intensity and effort throughout. Athletes participating in this event must have supersonic speed and also withstand the mental fortitude to push through the vigorous pain and fatigue that comes with pushing yourself to the end.
The 800m on the other hand, demands a more lengthy plan, as it requires more pacing and endurance to perform well. Runners must manage their energy effectively, avoiding early burnout, while maintaining a strong finish toward the end.
Both races highlight the importance of proper training, including interval training to build speed and endurance as well as strength and conditioning to improve overall performance.
Self-improvement in track and field, whether focusing on the 400m or 800m, is a continuous process of pushing boundaries and refining techniques. This involves consistent training, and adhering to a disciplined schedule that incorporates various aspects such as speed work, endurance runs, strength training, and flexibility exercises. Analyzing race performances, identifying weaknesses, and working on those areas with targeted drills is crucial for progress. Mental preparation is equally vital; athletes must cultivate focus as well as self-confidence.
“I think a couple of our main goals are definitely to win as many Saturday invitationals as we can, the biggest one we have coming up and that we host is the Dick Dei Track Classic which we host every year in April, so one of our main goals is to do our best at that meet and hopefully win, and also to try and win OVAC’s and our region as well, I’m looking forward to this season, we are almost there to our first track meet at Steubenville which is on Saturday, March 29th, and I think we have a really good group of older athletes on our team who have been around for quite some time now and been really strong and continue to lead the younger teammates as well,” said Coach Philips.
“In track, I do sprints and relays and I also pole vault, after recovering from an injury towards the end of last season I am definitely working towards a new PR, my goal is to reach 9 feet in the pole vault and I really want to bring down my sprint times, when I first got to track the team was super nice and welcoming towards those younger, my favorite memories are down-state as we go to Charleston every year and I’ve qualified for states the past two years and I just love the trip in general”, said junior Hailey Hastings.
From late February to May, the track season is definitely an energetic time. Make sure you support your track team!
