All athletes should try winter track
T
he high school’s winter track program has been a staple of the Granville athletics for years as the team works to improve athletic skills and movements not only for the WHIT MILLER winter track season but for preparations for future sports seasons in the spring. Aside from the evident success of the winter track team in season, the program’s ability to recruit student athletes from a multitude of other sports enables the athlete’s to improve in various speed and strength areas that will greatly benefit them in their spring sport. Through working on the fundamentals of increasing strength and speed, students become better overall atheletes through the program. The team’s training is made up of regimented workouts that cycle through strength training in the weight room as well as speed and agility on the track all in an effort to build a better athlete. This improves the athlete’s capabilities on the field in other sports which increases their success. This stems from the obvious fact that the bigger, stronger and
faster you are, the better athlete you are and the more likely you are to succeed in all sports. The evidence of success is presented when these winter track athletes begin their spring seasons and are already well conditioned and in shape for their upcoming seasons. In sports such as lacrosse, baseball, softball and tennis, the increased footwork and footspeed immediately benefits the athletes because of the nature of the sports. The same with the improved strength from the work in the weight room during the winter season. In track and field, everything worked on in winter track translates over to the spring season as student-athletes have been working on track specific skills all winter. In addition to the athletic advancements made by the student-athletes, the members of the team also begin to get a taste of competition through winter track that they otherwise would have to wait until spring to experience. This exposure to early competition comes from the various meets that the high school winter track team participates in and as a result prepares the atheletes for competition in the spring. Given the strength of the high school's program, many student athletes even get the opportunity to go to the state meet to compete in their respec-
tive event. The high school winter track team took over 30 athletes to states this past season and brought home two state championships in the 4x200 and 4x800 relays respectively. Through becoming accustomed to the competition and the coping that comes from either winning or losing. athletes can mentally prepare themselves for spring and be one step ahead of opponents who have not had the same exposure so early in the year. This mental preparation, combined with the increased strength and speed aspects of athletics, gives the student athletes participating in the winter track program a distinct advantage in the spring against opponents regardless of what sport they are playing. The wInter track team at the high school is a very successful and productive program that keeps athletes in shape during what would otherwise be the off season as well as provide athletic advantages and further preparation for the spring season which provides the student athlete with a head start on the spring competition. Overall, the winter track program is a great option for a student athlete looking to stay in shape and become a better athlete as well as become a better teammate for future athletic seasons.
Athlete Opinion: How has winter track helped spring athletes?
“The mental and phys- “It gives you a head “Winter track gives ical demands brings you an opportunity start for the spring the entire team closer, and a taste of compe- to compete and get creating an environa feel for what spring tition." ment where everyone will bring.” -Jacob Krieger pushes one another"
-Jenna Unkefer
-Max King
14 BLUEPRINTS WINTER 2021Photos provided by Blue & White Yearbook staff
“It really helps you maintain your speed and strength and lets you compete too." -Keshawn Bonner
“Track keeps me in great shape while being around my close friends. It is tough but has many benefits.” -Addison Lilly
