Track and field is getting ready to run to their state competitions this season.
Both teams are looking flashy, as both the boys and girls teams had an excellent previous season with many wins and records broken.
“The girl’s team has won states the past two years, which is the only time track has ever won a state meet for the girl’s team. We did lose some of our best runners but we have a lot of good runners coming in so I’m hopeful that we could get another state championship,” Lauren Thole ‘25 said.
Additionally, both teams have been practicing over the winter season to get in shape for the season early.
“A lot of the distance people have trained all winter doing distance workouts and running around. Us sprinters have been doing our workouts over the winter season and we’ve already had three weeks of practice with our coaches,” Charlie Chappus ‘25 said.
Over the winter season, both teams would meet various times during the week to lift weights, run sprints, and get some miles in to begin practicing early for the upcoming season.
With their season being three weeks in, their practices already vary depending on the events various teammates focus on.
“At a typical practice, we’ll have about a 15-20 minute warm-up, followed by sprinters doing sprint work stuff and distance kids running sometimes on the track, sometimes at Darby Hill, sometimes back and forth going around the lake. Then the throwers are usually down on the east end of the track working with Coach Bab, shot and disk, rotating back and forth. We end with some core and some general strength. We stretch at the end as a team and that rounds out our day,” Coach Matthew Putnam, the boy’s head coach, said.
The team is dedicated but also focuses a lot on the team bond. Although there are various workouts each teammate will do depending on their focus, they always make sure to warm up together and cool down together. They also have team dinners together throughout the season to unite the team.
“The kids don’t run track for track, they run it for the team,” Coach Michael Dykstra, the girl’s head coach, said.
The future looks bright for the team, as the team has nine coaches, and they also have senior captains Drew Muller, Avery Hecksel, Amelia Walchak, and MJ McGovern leading the way.
“The team is full of great kids that are working hard, with a great group of senior leaders and returning upperclassmen to lead the way. Hopefully, the work they have put in so far will lead to success as a team,” Putnam said.
Overall, track and field is a team with a positive attitude and dedication. With the effort the team puts in, there’s no doubt that the team will do well this season. They have their first meet Apr. 9, so come out and support them!
“It’s really fun to watch. The meets are long but they’re interesting to watch so stop by if you can,” Chappus said.
