By Vincent Trinh ’25
We placed three first-year track athletes into a room in a focus group to ask them about their track experience. Their names were MG: Mckeon Gray ‘27, JM: Julianne Meagher ‘27, and CS: Colton Shields ‘27. Each participant provided varying takes on the sport and shared their personal experiences. Throughout the conversation, one notable theme prevailed; that track is more of a mentally draining sport than a physical one. While the athletes collectively strive through this pain, they believe it will benefit them greatly in the long run. This interview was conducted with English teacher Jessica Yanes as the transcriber and Vincent Trinh ‘25 (VT) as the interviewer and author of this article. This is their story and these are their responses.
One theme that emerged was that the athletes shared the trait of their family members being involved in track and field prior to their joining. This was the main driving reason for them to join. This is what they had to say about it.
MG: By the time I got to sixth grade, both my sisters were running, so it was either I sit in the car for two hours while they practice, or I get out and start running. So that kicked off me starting running.
JM: My dad had ran track in high school. He made a small running club in high school, but it wasn’t until he was friends with one of the coaches at the middle school, so she (the coach) all the time was like, ‘you’re running.” Finally she was like “you’re joining track” so it was me being pressured into running by both of the coaches. I’m definitely glad that happened.
Another recurring theme was the camaraderie among the whole track team. Each runner expressed a strong feeling of family and community in the track team.
VT: What do you like the most about track?
MG: Probably the competition and feeling of family. Everyone looks out for everyone.
VT: What is your most memorable moment from Track so far?
MG: I gotta say, this year’s cross country. It started off so small with no one able to compete, but we were able to pull off a team and a winning season on both teams. I think that was a really good moment. I think cross country is often overlooked and people look at running as a punishment rather than an enjoyable sport, so people don’t want to compete.
JM: Locker room things. None of you would be able to relate, but there’s some fun stuff that happens in there. Me, Sofia, Nedaat, there’s some conversations that happen because we’re all bonding over the same thing and sometimes people say the most hilarious stuff, so it’s nice to know that it’s not always running focused, but because we’re there and connected to running, it’s easier to make connections.
MG: we’re suffering together, and we’re able to combine that work with being together.
The runners were asked about their readiness for meets. They each had varying responses, but it all came back to one thing: a motivating environment.
MG: I mean, do I ever think I’m ready for meets? I enjoy them, it’s just getting up to that line is so stressful because you don’t want to let your team down, but I think having a team where everyone supports you is helpful. I think I’m prepared.
JM: It’s nice because track is such an individual sport, so the people around you, they’re trying their best, so they’re not really expecting too much from you. All they want is for you to (pass your) PR (personal record), so it builds an environment that is all support. You’re running, we’re running, we’re all happy that you’re here.
MG: You always get cheered on no matter what, even if you’re in last place. They’re always trying to look out for you and trying to help you get to the best of your abilities.
JM: It’s the environment I want to be in. Most of the running environments are great, it doesn’t matter if I’m injured or in pain, I’m still going to be in the team because that’s the place I want to be.
Throughout the conversation, an image was formed from the responses of all three athletes that applied to the individual track experience. This image appeared to focus on one aspect of the track experience. This suggested that mental solitude was just as if not more important than speed when it came to running.
VT: What do you like the least about track?
JM: Repeats: one thousand repeats. You know when we did the 800 and then wait for three minutes and do the other one? I’m running or not running. How are we going to run and then stop? I’d rather run seven miles.
VT: On a scale of 1-10, how confident are you in running longer distances and achieving PRs?
JM: I’d say an eight or nine because it always depends on the day. Some days I walk out on the track and don’t feel good, but usually take the anxiety I feel at the starting line and turn it into excitement. I’m confident in what I can do, not what’s going to happen.
MG: (track is) More of a mental game than a physical game.
VT: Do you think you’re ready for meets?
CS: I think I am too. For a lot of sports, I get kind of stressed because I have to think, but for running I don’t have to think. I can just run. I have no thoughts going on because I don’t have to.
JM: It’s gonna be scary it’s gonna be stressful in the moment, but we’re here, we made it, this is our sport, I would say, yeah, if I can run, I’m gonna run, it doesn’t matter what place I get.
VT: Are you thinking of continuing or quitting track as of this moment?
MG: I’m thinking of continuing. It’s all really thanks to the middle school teachers who build the foundation. In high school, it’s a whole new sport because you’re running for the whole team, and it becomes a mental sport more than a physical sport.
In the conversation, one notable theme appeared; that track is more of a mentally draining sport than a physical one. While the athletes collectively strive through this pain, they seem to all believe that it will benefit them greatly in the long run.
VT: How is running track different than running cross-country?
CS: I think it was the pain and suffering of the 800 on the timed trial. It was less of a moment and more of an eternity.
VT: Do you feel that you’re progressing in your running?
MG: Most definitely for me. The start of the season, my middle school times weren’t the best, but I’ve been able to get PRs in running.
CS: I don’t have enough history on myself to know, but I’ve been improving in the weight room for practices
JM: I would say I’ve improved. My endurance has improved. I can definitely run and keep a steady pace throughout all four laps of the mile. We’ll see how I do on the two-mile.
VT: On a scale of 1-10, how confident are you in running longer distances and achieving PRs?
CS: I think a four or five because, for distance, it’s just a matter of how much you want to make yourself suffer, because if I really wanted to, I could make myself go faster, but it would hurt more.
VT: Is that a life lesson, working through injury to be on the team and work on a higher goal?
JM: Yeah, especially working through a running injury, it’s going to make you a better runner in the future, and you learn to make sure you don’t injure yourself again.
During the conversation, one theme that stood out was how fondly the runners reminisced on their time on the track team. The runners had enjoyed sharing their most memorable moments from their time on the track team. These are their stories.
VT: What do you like most about track?
CS: I like running cool places during practices. I like to be in places that are cool while I’m running with friends. Like scenic places, it’s neat. I like Lakeview and the abandoned house.
JM: Similar to Colton, we like doing what we call adventure runs, where the coaches say run wherever you want for this long, so we get to make up courses that are enjoyable for us.
MG: We found our own animal and it’s a beaver. We named it Keith. We got chased by dogs.
CS: I want to do that.
The runners were then asked what they disliked about the track experience. Two out of the three gave an answer, expressing great annoyance and intimidation.
VT: What do you like the least about track?
MG: Saturday practices. No one wants to wake up on a Saturday, and we get there and it’s the hardest workouts on Saturdays.
CS: The 800 (mile race) is very scary. I don’t like it.
Each runner in this interview is still a first-year runner. Meaning that their ‘greenness’ came with a perception of other athletes who had run longer than them. Each runner held them to a high degree of admiration and respect, while essentially humbling themselves.
VT: What are your thoughts on athletes who have been running since middle school?
JM: I think it’s nice that they’ve found something they’re so passionate about. They chose, I’m going to dedicate my life to this sport. They’re making memories, changing their lives, helping their bodies, and that’s great for them.
VT: So it’s admirable. I feel like some athletes get very cocky.
MG: The cockiness was very high in middle school. With the high school team, the cockiness isn’t quite as high. Overall, I think track has a good dynamic and most people support the whole team.
CS: I think “holy cow, they are fast!”
It would seem that the first-year track athletes are enjoying their time with their fellow team members. Expressing a feeling of community amongst them, they have developed strong bonds. It’s safe to say that the DHS first-year track athletes are motivated and driven while running for the team.
The Raider Press 