The ending track season came with both challenges and successes for the team’s members.
For CAA junior Evan Fields, this year’s track season was quite fruitful.
“I think I performed really well, I got good times, and even broke the school record too,” Evan said. Evan currently holds a personal record of 48.57 seconds in the 400 meter dash, holding the fastest 400-meter time of the school’s history.
However Evan is not content with stagnation. “I’m trying to break my own [record] in the future,” Evan said. “I’m going for 46 soon.”
Other members of the track team, such as BITA senior Elijah Gordon, are focused on reminiscing on the season.
“I’m kind of sad, because I’ve learned a lot, but I’m also relieved because there were also a lot of obstacles that came with it,” Elijah said.
This sentiment was a common one throughout the track team. Many athletes feel sports can be both a place to grow as individuals and build new relationships, but also be an activity that can be hard to balance with their lives as students.
This challenge may have proved especially difficult for Elijah because he was taking on new challenges on top of his established responsibilities. “I tried something new which was hurdles, and looking from the outside it seemed so hard, but when you really get to know it it becomes really simple.”
Another member of the track team who wasn’t afraid to get out of their comfort zone is AMPA Junior Ashton Hyde, who despite not being used to it, decided to do one of the longer distance events.
“I would say starting the 800 was pretty difficult,” Ashton said. “It was my first year … It was really hard. I was usually a 100 and 200 runner, sometimes a 400 runner, and I really had to change how I thought and how I ran.”
This willingness to attempt something that feels intimidating or difficult to a person is a trait that is truly admirable about the track team, and one which can allow an athlete to come into their own skin.
Overall, this track season can be seen as a successful one which not only led to victories for the team, but built up morale for seasons to come.
