It was an incredible season this year for the UHSSE Outdoor Track Team. Our team placed 2nd for both boys and girls at Championships at Weaver High School this past week. The boys got runner-up to International, and the girls got runner-up to Hartford Public High School. For the girls, Catherine Hockenhull took first place in the 800, 1600, and 3200 meter races. Isabella Sorvillo ’28 took 3rd place in the 800 meter and 2nd in the 1600 meter. Chelsea Thompson ’26 got 2nd place in the 300 meter hurdles and Jessica Walters got 2nd in the 100 meter hurdles. Joanliz Nunez Matics ’28 got 3rd place in the long jump. For the boys, Jethro Ehrlich ’26 took 2nd place in the 800 and 3200 meters and 3rd place in the 1600 meters. Emmet Spaeth ’25 got 3rd in the 800 and 4th in the 1600 and 3200 meters. Richard Powell ’25 got 1st in discus, and Jeffery Gilliam ’25 got 2nd in javelin. This Monday, our team has the states meet which will be the last meet of this season.
Track is a truly beautiful sport, from the amount of dedication it requires to seeing all of your goals and hopes come to fruition. Especially at the end of the season, it’s amazing to see how much our runners have improved and progressed over the course of the season. Only if you are willing to put in the work every day, without seeing immediate improvement, are you able to succeed. “I chose to do outdoor track because I love the challenge. I love that not everyone is able to do it and that only the dedicated and hardworking are able to see the results. This may sound a little mean, but I like seeing that hard work really does pay off over time,” said Hockenhull.
Track and field is an arduous sport; it gives you a constant challenge and something to pursue. Running is 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical; even while working incredibly hard, you have to push yourself the most mentally. During workouts, you have to be willing to push yourself past the fatigue and pain. During races, it’s only you that can push yourself to run faster and push past your competitors. Running gives you this patience and mental strength that nothing else can. Being a part of this team, having people to share this passion and challenge with, makes it just that much better. It’s incredible, being able to encourage and push each other in something that we all share a passion for. “I love the relationships I have made with my teammates this year. They have pushed me to be the best version of myself, and they have made me who I am today,” said Hockenhull ‘25. Running can also give you endurance and stamina that will help to carry you through long workouts, practices, and races. The strength it gives you, both mentally and physically, will help you in every aspect of your life. “A close second favorite thing is the athletic ability that comes with doing a sport. I love being able to hop into a game of any type and know I’ll be fine because I’m athletic,” said Spaeth.
This year we have a lot of seniors on our team; they will soon be graduating, and some will be continuing to run in college. We wish the best of luck to all of our seniors and can’t wait to see what they go on to do. “I will be going to UConn this fall to study chemistry and animal science. I plan on joining the club cross country and track team there. I love running, and I hope that I can continue it however possible when I am in college,” said Hockenhull. As the season comes to an end, it’s amazing to see the progress all of our runners have made this year. We can’t wait to see how the next season and cross country will go after summer break.
