Looking Forward: Track and Field Starts First Indoor Season in Two Years

In March 2020, Central’s Track and Field team attended their first (and last) meet of the season. The meet at Bloomington’s indoor track facility was intended to be the first of many in what looked to be a very promising season for the Running Maroons. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic hit one week later, the remainder of the season was unfortunately canceled, and track finally returned for a slightly delayed outdoor season over a year later (April 2021). For the first time in two years, Central’s Track and Field team will be competing at an indoor meet, something that very few of the group have ever actually experienced.

Head Coach of Central’s Girls Track and Field team, Coach Hood, said that “the first indoor meet of the season is always interesting…for many it's their first high school meet and for some their first meet ever. There are a lot of things that are difficult to understand until you get into the swing of things like checking in for events, watching the track for traffic, making sure you don't cross in front of the timing camera or a throwing sector, etc.” Another adjustment for the athletes to make will be the COVID-19 restrictions, which are to be enforced at all times during the meets (including during races), though enforcing mask-wearing in such a large group may prove to be difficult. Hood stated that “from what I've gathered, student-athletes will be expected to wear [masks] but how they are worn won't be strictly enforced.” Despite these restrictions, team members expressed being eager to return to the indoor atmosphere and are keeping a positive mindset.

Central’s girls Track and Field team in particular is known for their team culture of support and community. Hood commented on the atmosphere he tries to cultivate, stating that “my philosophy as a coach is that the stronger the connections are between groups, the more competitive we will be as a program.” Junior Kyla Canales, a sprinter and pole vaulter on the team, expressed her gratitude for the positive environment within the group. “Track can seem like an extremely individual sport from the spectators point of view, but it's really the opposite. The girls on the team lean on each other to get through hard workouts and to make practices fun.” Canales is an incredibly unique competitor in that she not only sprints during the spring, but also competes at a much longer distance (3 miles) for the girl’s cross country team in the fall. Canales explained, “I've always loved cross country, but my sister encouraged me to try out a couple new (shorter) events and I'm so happy she did.” She feels that competing in both sports actually gives her an edge, stating that “I get to try new workouts and when the seasons are over, take what I learned from one and try to use it for the other.”

The indoor track season will begin with the SIU Invitational for the boys on March 5th and the Big 12 Indoor meet for the girls on March 14th. Good luck to the running maroons as they begin their upcoming season!