By: Peyton Shields
With 268 students participating in track this Spring, students have much to say about their experiences in the sport. Many students enjoy having fun with their friends and trying out different events to find what they are good at. However, when the weather is not great, the students in track aren’t too happy about it. But at the end of the day, the students in track really enjoy the time spent on the sport.
For some kids, track is a great place for socialization. Track meets give a lot of time in between events for hanging out with their teammates. Eliza Shamrell, a member of the track team, said, “My favorite part of being in track is being with my friends and doing fun events.”
Other kids enjoy having chances to try new things. Track participants may start the season off knowing they’re good runners but then discover new skills through events like long jump and hurdles. Vrayas Pila, an eighth-grade track athlete, said, “Relays are fun, and you have a lot of opportunities to do a lot of different stuff. There are field events, short and long-distance, and there’s a lot of chances to try something new.”
Although many students enjoy the experiences they gained participating in track, there is a drawback: the weather. Mau Sanchez Carmona, another track athlete, said, “If I could change one thing about track it would be not running outside when the weather is not good.” Many times it can be cold and windy during track practices or meets, yet the team still practices to improve their skills.
The track team practices after school and competes in meets against other schools on most Tuesdays and Thursdays. To learn more, visit the PVJH track website at PVJH Athletics - PVJH Track & Field.