The girls’ and boys’ track teams are gearing up for the 101st running of the Kokomo Relays, the longest continuous running relays in the country. The teams have been working hard to prepare themselves throughout the start of the season.
In the first meet of the season, the boys’ team came out with a win against Western.
“It was our first race of the season, and we’re off to a really strong start,” said senior distance runner Connor Frederick. “As a distance runner—and the main 3200 runner—I don’t know as much about the sprinters and field events, but I do know the distance side, and we’re starting off well, even if it’s a bit rocky.”
The relay team of Cooper Cage, Micah Taflinger, Trevor Nelson and Preston Arreola set a personal best in the 4×800 relay. Junior Ben Wallace had a strong meet as well. He set a personal record in the 1600 and finished just six seconds off his personal record in the 3200.
In the same meet, junior Jeremiah Young took 1st in the long jump while junior Dayveon Williams won the high jump. Seniors Chance Duncan and Jedaiah Beard won the shotput and discus, respectively.
The girls’ track and field team is also off and running this season. In their first outdoor meet of the season, sophomore Ja’Layia Williams won the pole vault, while junior Tia Williams and senior Makaela Drake finished 1st and 2nd in the long jump. The mid-distance and distance runners Morgan Rakestraw, Gretchen Riggle, Jimena Mier and Emilie Leger also set personal bests at the meet.
The team is working hard to reach their goals this season.
“Our goals this season are to win the conference (NCC) and compete well enough to win the sectional which will not be an easy task,” said coach Bryan Woods. “Also, we want to get our relay teams and as many of our individual events through sectionals, regionals and hopefully on to state championships.”
For Rakestraw, the mental aspect of running track is one of the highlights.
“I like the mental toughness track will bring you. We have hard workouts in all different kinds of weather and you must push through everyday,” she said.
Woods enjoys coaching and the relationships that are formed through the sport, but the difficulties can be hard to manage.
“The hardest part of coaching are injuries and disappointments. Injuries are going to happen in any sport but navigating them can be difficult especially in track and field,” he said. “For me as a coach, seeing the disappointment from an athlete that may have not performed well or reach a personal goal will always be tough.”
Williams agrees, noting that injuries are very common for track athletes.
“There are a lot of injuries throughout the season and because of the pain that comes with it, track isn’t an easy sport,” she said. “It will always make you stronger in some way shape or form.”
Both track teams have home meets on Tuesday against Lafayette Jeff and McCutcheon before hosting the Kokomo Relays on Saturday, May 3 at Walter Cross Field.
