Expansion and improvement: The track and field community is on track to keep getting better
Although Track and Field involves a lot of athleticism and determination that isn’t meant for everyone, Track and Field’s turnout has increased significantly over the years. People keep on returning to improve themselves, and find it as a great way to chat with others and make new friends. This year, with many new people joining, the sport has become even more entertaining and has a better outlook for the future, and the turnout is appreciated by former players. Track and Field provides a unique opportunity to get involved in a new community.
Captain Theo Su enjoys seeing new faces and seeing everyone around him improve. “I think my favorite parts of track and field is probably getting to know a lot of new people, and also just seeing myself slowly improve,” he said.
Su also enjoys how lively the practices are. “I think people make friends or, like, have friends that go to practices and stuff. So I think it is very communal,” he said. By having friends on the team, other people want to join, increasing the team’s turnout.
Freshman Noah Miller-Fimpel shares his experience of how his first Track and Field season is going so far. “It’s been fun. It’s been pretty hard. The workouts are really hard. I met a lot of new people,” he said.
Miller-Fimpel enjoys the combination of both exercise and time to chat. “My favorite part is, after we do the running, we go in a circle and stretch, and then we do go arounds so we get to know each other better, and it’s just chill because we get to relax and learn about new people”.
Su also believes that the coaches play a big part in how they perform, and the coaches values positively reflect the athletes improvements. “when our current coach came to SPA for the first time in order to coach our track and field team, he placed more of the emphasis on culture, not getting injured, and I think everyone’s performance has actually got better when that happened”.
Having the same coaches signifies more improvements and benefits for Su. “Last year, we started getting even more competitive because he returned again, and having the same coach is really beneficial, because he already knows how the team culture works and everything like that. And so now this year, I’m anticipating more of the same. I’m anticipating more improvements, especially for people who have been here for a few years”.
Only having one meet so far, the Track and Field team is eager to get back into the competition. They are preparing for events to come, as well as possibly moving on to state. The connection practices bring make the players all the better when the time comes for a meet. The Track and Field program offers a spot where athletes can build their own little community and find joy in it, all while improving themselves.
The Spartans placed first in the men’s 4*400 relay, women’s 800m, and women’s 4*100 relay, and individuals set personal records.
Their next meet is conference relays at 4:15 pm, May 7, at Blake School – Hopkins Campus.
When people hear “track and field,” their minds often jump straight to running down a lane. While that is partially true, there is much more to the sport than just races. Field events have long played a prominent role in the definition of the sport, showcasing a diverse range of athleticism through events like shot put, discus, and long jump. Each event, whether on the track or the field, requires its own unique blend of strength and technique.
Individuality is essential for many aspects of track and field. Captain Clare Ryan Bradley expresses her idea of the comparison between track and other sports teams she has experienced: “A lot of the times before a race, I’ll warm up with myself, which is different than warming up as a team,” she said.
Sophomore Tallulah Dogwill views a steady balance between teamwork and independence within the SPA track and field community. “We always do our warmups together as a team, we’re pretty together as a team,” she said. While collaboration remains a key component of training, it’s equally essential for athletes to separate and focus on their individual specialties. Distance runners, sprinters, and throwers dedicate time to separate workouts tailored to their specific skill sets. “There’s definitely little communities within the big community,” Dogwill said.
Sophomore Rachel Guo also sees the contrasting effects of a larger community. Smaller groups within the big track family can limit connection-making. “It’s big, and then it’s hard to get to know everyone,” she mentioned. Various grade levels mixed with different events sometimes create a barrier, causing a sense of separation among teammates who might otherwise bond. Still, the opportunities the track and field team provides are boundless.
Both team and individual aspects require movement and flexibility, but accidents and injuries are sometimes unavoidable. With those injuries, athletes can still participate during the season in various ways. “I guess if you have a leg injury, there are some people that will go to throwing, but for things like jumping, it’s usually just a crossover,” Ryan Bradley said.
Further, Dogwill relates to the struggle of being an injured athlete, but also found her strategy to continue throughout the season. “I do discus it’s kind of like my main event, and I started doing that because last year I injured my hip, so that was the only event I could do,” she said.
Some students are not so lucky and are unable to compete in the season at all. Regardless, there are always ways they can contribute positively as a Spartan. Coaches still find ways to implement injured athletes into the organization process of meets, practice, and planning. “For one meet, our coaches will be assigned the long jump hit, so [the injured athlete] will be in charge of measurements,” Ryan Bradley said.
The successful Spartan track and field team stands out not just for its competitive spirit but also for its deep sense of inclusivity and adaptability. Field events in particular offer spaces where SPA athletes of all strengths and abilities can find their fit. Even when injuries arise, the team generates space for each person to stay valued and involved. The balance between support and the challenges of connection overall defines the Spartan track and field experience.
