Track season started on March 26, with 53 athletes, 30 boys, and 23 girls. They had14 meets scheduled total for the season and are ready for the conference meet. Athletes set their sites on seeing improvement and qualifying for state.
Head coach Cody Morgan explains that this year they, “added more athletes, spent time in the off-season working on flexibility, strength and speed, several of our times/distance have started off better than last year, especially for those that were on track last year.” He looks forward to the growth of each athlete, and the memories that they will make this season.
As the season starts off many of the athletes set goals for themselves to try to get better.
“My goals are to return to state and place because a state medal would be cool,” sophomore Colton Chapman said. He has been participating in track for four years, first inspired to do it from his siblings, who also ran track.
Chapman placed 15 at state last season in the 110 M Hurdles with a time of 16.63. Senior Naomi Yoder and sophomore Addison Hill also represented WHS at the state meet last season. Yoder placed 7th in the 400M with a time of 60.05 and Hill placed 7th in the high jump with a jump of 1.57M.
Sophomore long-distance runner Isaac Daughenbaugh has been participating in track since his eighth grade year, this being his third.
“Honestly, I’m not completely sure what encouraged me to do track. I think I did it for a few reasons. I do know that I am a busy body and want to keep active and moving. I enjoy challenging myself and meeting new people. I have a very love-hate relationship with track. I always hate myself for choosing long distance running, but I also know that it is good for me in the long run. I initially did it as well so I could try something new and have more time to hang out with friends,” Daughenbaugh said.
This year, he plans to beat his personal goals and records.
“I would love to cut off another 20 seconds or more on my two-mile and hit at most 12:20 and maybe even sub 12 minutes in the two mile race. For the one mile, I would love to hit 5:20-5:30. And finally, for the 800 meter race (half-mile) I would like to hit 2:15,” he said.
Daughenbaugh said he is thankful for his coaches.
“I really appreciate all the work and time coaches have helped me, even if it was for a few minutes. Sometimes I feel like I annoy them, but they still help me. Coach Banfield helps me big time on form and strides and so many more things. Coach Morgan helped me on time-cutting for when I run, and he has helped so much . . . All together, the coaches are more than just coaches, but prepare us young adults for the real world,” he concluded.
Junior Jasmin Myers recognizes the mind-game in the sport.
“I feel like a lot of people think that running is hard because they keep thinking a lot about the physical side of it, especially long distance, when really it is mostly about your mentality that is pushing you to do your best and keep going, or can even cause you to go slower than you usually do,” she said.
She has also been doing track since her seventh grade year.
“I was encouraged to do track because my dad did it when he was my age, and I also just always really liked to run,” she said.
She plans to beat her mile record with seven minutes, and half mile record with under three minutes.
Senior Wesley Jackson has been participating in track for five years, originally encouraged by senior Brayden Henderson to start. Though it is his last year, he is still anticipating the freedom,
“It feels great, I’m excited to be done and have a lot of free time,” he said.
He plans to go to state for his final year.
“I would like to add that track is fun and more people should do long distance,” he said.
