The season is about to kick off for the UHSSE Outdoor Track team. This week our training will start up again, and our first meet is scheduled for April 8th at Weaver High School. All of our runners are excited to try new events, achieve new personal records, and put everything into their races. We have many new runners who joined this year and are looking forward to seeing how they do in outdoor track.
The indoor track season went incredibly well, and all of our runners made great improvements and got many personal records. Two of our athletes qualified and went on to compete at states. Richard Powell ’25 competed in the shot put, and Chelsea Thompson ’26 competed in the 55-meter hurdles. Our team tied for first place with Hartford Public High School at the CRAL Championships. After having such a great season, our team is in very high spirits for the outdoor track season. “Indoor track was an overall success. I think everyone really came together at the end, and everyone was so supportive of each other even through injuries and all that. I’m excited to see that transition over to outdoor,” said Coach Matthew Walker.
One of the best things about this sport is the individuality of the sport while still having a close-knit team. You work hard for yourself, and it’s your responsibility to push yourself during races, but you will always hear your teammates cheering for you from the turf. “I love the team energy and the individuality of the sport. I love that you are the only reason you succeed,” said Victor Wilkins ‘26. Being a part of a team also gives you so much more motivation. It gives you people who will help encourage you and are struggling through the same hard workouts as you. The energy that the team brings to practice and to all of our meets will carry you through, even when you are exhausted. “I just love people really getting into it, cheering each other on, and just bringing everyone up,” said Coach Walker.
Track and field is a sport that takes a lot of dedication and patience but will always be worth it in the end. You work extremely hard and have to continue pushing yourself even after having a bad race. But as long as you don’t stop trying your hardest, you will get to achieve your goals. You have to trust that with time all of your work and effort will have been for a reason. “My motivation during hard races is there’s a medal and PR waiting for me at the end of the work I put in,” said Wilkins. It also helps to be training with teammates who have the same drive and dedication as you do. They are the only ones who can really understand why this is all so important. “What helps motivate me during hard workouts is seeing my teammates working alongside me for the common goal of improvement,” said William Pape ‘27.
With outdoor track just beginning, we are excited to see how our team progresses Our team is ready to get new personal records, compete at championships once again, and have a great season.
