After a successful dual meet against Byron Nelson on Feb. 13, the varsity track team now has gained preparation for the season to come.   The dual proved to be a great indicator for the outcome of the rest of the season, and allowed both the boys and girls teams a chance to prepare for their first official meet.

With the official season about to begin, the track teams have started training daily to make sure they are ready for future meets.

“We are working on a lot of things, handoffs, our field events, and mainly just trying to achieve a bigger and better goal,” freshman Tatiana Morris said.

Working towards the team’s goals by pushing themselves in practices is the main focus for the team but other elements such as teamwork and being able to trust each other is an important factor that the track team strives towards.

“Basically now we are working on strengthening the chemistry between each other and building stamina so we can all be the best we can be,” sophomore Keiran Hanlon said.

At this dual meet, that encouragement Hanlon mentioned was a main focus for many teammates. As fellow teammates were competing, athletes not racing would cheer and encourage the ones competing to do their best and push harder.

“It helped us gain chemistry with each other and see how the year was going to go and where we needed to improve before a real track meet,” Hanlon said on the Feb. 13 dual meet.

Using the encouragement of teammates to do their best, paid off for many of the athletes.  This practice meet allowed the team to get adjusted to how an actual meet will be operated and an advantage for their first real meet where they will be given the opportunity to execute what they have learned.

“It’s been awhile since last track season, and being a freshman running in a high school track meet for the first time is pretty nerve wracking, but once I was in the race, running, all my nerves were gone and I just focused on trying to win and getting a good time,” freshman Cami McDaris said. “While I was running I was just trying to cheer myself on and was telling myself that I could do it and that I needed to finish strong and beat the girl next to me.”

Along with McDaris, many team members agree that the preparation for the gun to go off is the most stressful part of the race but once it has begun, the focus on what needs to be executed becomes more important.

“It was really nerve-wracking at first but also such an adrenaline rush! And I was so glad when my exchange finished our handoff correctly,” Hanlon said regarding her relay race.

Now that the team knows the ropes for future track meets, they know what they need to focus on as a team and individually to continue to do their best.

“The practice meet showed me what the rest of the season will be like and helped me practice getting off the blocks and going through handoffs with my relay teams for the first time in a real race,” McDaris said.

With the focus of finishing the race at their best and encouraging others, the track teams season is off to a good start.  Many teammates had similar hopes and realizations as other members.

“The meet prepared us for what the season has in store for us and some of the competition from that meet, we will see again in the future,” freshman, Halee VanPoppel, said.

With the season underway, the varsity track teams are now prepared for approaching meets.  The track team will be competing Feb. 20 at Byron Nelson. Come support!