Track season has started, both coaches and students have the goal to train hard during the year and peak through district by getting faster and more in shape.

“At the end of the day we are focused on winning one meet, and that is district,” Jesse Walker, boys head coach, said.

The hard work and dedication the coaches and participants have put in during the off-season program has helped get many runners get in shape and ready for track. By working on a program based on strength training and running form, working on the weightroom in the track, and in sand.

“We have redesigned our workout schedule to peak at Area this year, two weeks later than last year,” Stephen Meine, girls and pole vault track coach , said.

Now that track season has started, runners stay four days a week. A typical practice day is no longer than one hour.

“The practice are helping me because it gets me faster and stronger to be prepared for the meets and they balance out the distance each day so we don’t run as much the day before a meet,” long-distance runner and senior Keyanah Browning said.

The practices mainly focus on the runners running and their forms. The team starts off the week running a lot and decreasing the amount as the week progresses.

“What were mainly focusing is on getting faster by doing linear or straight running,” Walker said.

After practice students are allowed to get a “good workout” with relays and sprint coach Victor Bennett and discuss coach Matthew Kehoe in the weight room by doing CrossFit training, which was newly introduced to the track program. CrossFit helps the participants with muscular insurance helping runners in three ways: keeping runners flexibility, bringing strength to the core, and preventing injuries. The coaches say CrossFit also helps participants mentally helping them push beyond what they think they can achieve.

“Sometimes they hit a point where they’re ready to stop but with muscular endurance they can succeed in that all,” Bennett said.
The next track meet will be Friday.