The Track and Feild Overview
This year’s track team is more than ready for the new ‘24 season. There was a large turnout of people that tried out this season with around 35 boys and 20 girls. Many of them had conditioned for months just to make the team. The Blue and White interviewed the coaches and track athletes for their perspectives on the start of track.
Expectations for Track
Coach Schreiner gave his prediction for this season and what he wanted to see happen. Beginning with how he started coaching, “This is year number six that I started coaching. I used to teach at this high school where I was the head coach. [Then] I came here and coach Fowler gave me an opportunity and it’s been great ever since.” Then focusing on this year’s track team and expectations, he says, “We got a good grip, especially on the boy’s side [there are] some older kids. [I’m] looking forward to them in the spring events and the 400. The boy’s team is going to do a lot of sprinters. [I’m] looking forward to what the girls going put out this year even though they are young, we have some sophomore girls who are coming into their own. It’s going to be exciting. It will be tough, but hopefully, they’ll be peaking at the right points for metros and districts to come.” That’s a lot of wisdom coming from the assistant coach.
Students and Their Motivations
Now beginning with the students, many described their motivations for the season and their process of growth. Starting Senior Marcus Grant said: “I train for track in the field by having the best coaches in the area take the long drives and time out of their day to provide our team with workouts that translate to the race. I think that I’m getting ready. I’ve spent most of my time preparing my body to run these impressive times.” In addition to that, Marcus is also working to become the best version of himself, “What motivates me to run track is that I can use it to get a free education and sort of relieve the financial responsibility of paying for college from my parents. Outside of track, I played football earlier in the year but I’m also pursuing my AA, and hope to one day be in a position to provide for my future family. I’m trying to get my name out there as not a football player running track but as an athlete running track and getting noticed by a university. I first started track last year. I grew with the team and the people I had around me and it made me love coming out and being with my teammates. I can’t ask for a better group of people to be around,” he said. The connections we make along the way are often more important than the journey itself which is why it’s important to value the people around you. Marcus Grant has a bright future ahead of him and The Blue and White sends him the best of luck to reach his goals.
Senior Aaron Erase also gave his opinion, starting with the mindset he needs for track this year. He said, “I’m ready for the new season, and being that it’s my last season, I want to make it my best. The things that motivate me for track, are the opportunities it could give me towards college, as well as the physical benefits I get from it. The training I do for track and field, being a quarter-miler, as well as a jumper is very intense. It involves many reps of various sprints, a lot of stretching, and weight lifting. When I am not at practice doing my assigned workout. I go on runs around my neighborhood, as well as go to the gym.” In addition to working out, he also appreciates the close bonds he made throughout the 3 years of doing track.
Track is prepared to run against the competition, and we are rooting for them. The future is promising for the Apopka High School track team.
