The track at HHS practice has a lot of energy, competition, and sense of belonging/community. For a majority of the runners, the sport is important as athletes strive to get better times and placements. However, they also note the importance of the people and passion behind the sport. One of the athletes is senior Isaac Thomas who commented about the track season.
“Grand, I get to do what I love and be with the people I love,” Thomas said. “Every day at practice and meets feels worth it because I enjoy the environment so much. It’s been a really positive experience overall.”
This sense of connection often carries into the district track meets, and all the hard work pays off. As expected, the track meets bring a lot of pressure, however, athletes feel that it is an opportunity to progress and test their limits. And on the track, Thomas describes the need for mental and physical endurance.
“I run the 1600, and sometimes the 1800,” Thomas said. “I mainly focus on the 1600, but I’ll step into the 800 when needed. It depends on what the team needs and how I’m feeling. These races require pacing and pushing through any discomfort.”
Many athletes like to try different events to try new things out and explore their capabilities. But Thomas knows where he’s best suited.
“No way [I would race short distance],” Thomas said. “I’m definitely more built for distance events and that’s where I’m comfortable. Sprinting just isn’t my thing at all.”
This confidence allows him to focus on training and commit to improving in the events that already suit him the most. Beyond competition, the team environment stands out as one of the biggest elements in track. Practices are for working out, but as well as the friendships and community that is built.
“I would recommend track to incoming students, it’s a great community, even if it’s not your main sport,” Thomas said. “You develop skills that help with your other sports too. It’s also a good way to meet people and push yourself.”
Track also helps develop endurance, discipline, and skills that can be applied to other areas of life. This value is shown through track’s impacts being felt beyond high school, even though there is no team structure anymore.
“Yes, I plan to continue beyond high school to a capacity, but not for the school,” Thomas said. “I plan to participate in intramural soccer and Run Club at MSU. I still want to stay active and keep running in some way.”
Like any sport, track has a lot of obstacles. Injuries in particular are a major interruption for many athletes and can limit progress. They can be frustrating but also build character and perseverance.
“Injuries have been a big challenge,” Thomas said. “They slow you down and make things frustrating at times. But dealing with them has helped me learn patience and stay disciplined.”
In order to keep improving, the athletes reiterate that consistency is key. They talk about the importance of guidance and effort, and how improvement is more of a long-term idea.
“Talk to Zack, and focus on regular, consistent practice and working hard,” Thomas said. “Getting advice from others helps a lot. Staying consistent is the biggest thing for improving.”
Together, these experiences convey what the track team means to athletes at HHS. It is about competition, community, and hard work. And it will continue to be like this for years to come.
