Track athletes work diligently during the winter months in preparation for tryouts and the spring season.
“It’s been fun to see the growth and development of the team and the kids all winter,” Head Coach Anthony Beggrow said.
Conditioning is all about getting athletes in shape for the upcoming season. This year, conditioning is every Tuesday and Thursday.
“Part of [track] is just prepping your body and being ready to be able to compete, jump, and throw, whatever it may be,” Beggrow said.
Students have been going to lifting and conditioning for a while now, with some going as early as October, showing their dedication to the sport.
“I haven’t seen everybody who’s coming to try out yet, since we are still in the preseason, but the kids that want to be here definitely make the effort to show up week after week,” Stephanie Fichtelman, assistant coach of Girls Track, said.
The track team has seen huge growth over the past year. Around 230 people, boys and girls combined, are currently hoping to be on the team.
“A lot of kids have what it takes but the numbers have grown so much with track that we have to unfortunately cut. It’s not something that we wanna do,” Beggrow said.
While the influx of athletes means a lot of competition, it’s driving some to push even harder.
“I feel like I’ve gotten a lot better, but there is a lot of competition this year, so I have to see,” Sanjana Parthiban ‘28 says.
However, for others, track is more than just a sport. It’s a safe, yet competitive environment where friendships are fostered and progress is made.
“I’ve gotten my best friendships out of track and it just makes me feel good about myself,” freshman sprinter Haley Evans said.
With tryouts less than a month away, track offers both personal growth and a supportive community. But, for those who don’t make the team, perseverance is key.
“Those who don’t make it on the team should continue training and hopefully try again next year,” Beggrow said.
Additionally, Intro to Journalism students Easton Anderson, Austynn Fite, and Paris Jamison covered the track pre-season for BNN. See the video for more.
