INDOOR TRACK
OVERVIEW OF SPORT ADDITION
For this season, indoor track is an opportunity at the school for students to get involved. While meets have been held in indoor venues in the past, the specific format has become a sport of its own. This was seen as necessary to improve athletes regardless of the outdoor weather conditions. “The reason we do indoor track is because we will get more meets in. Sometimes, the weather interferes with the outdoor track meets and they get cancelled,” sophomore Manraj Gerwal said. “Now that we run indoors, we don’t have to worry about the weather holding us back.” When considering the differences between indoor and outdoor track, events are held on a smaller scale. The track is 200 meters instead of being 400 meters in an outdoor venue. Furthermore, there is the 60-meter dash instead of the 100 meter-dash and 60-meter hurdles instead of 100-meter hurdles. They also do not have the 4x100 relay, but run the 4x200 relay which is not usually raced in
Indiana. “We have an Indoor State meet, but it is really just a big invitational, not the same as outdoor state,” varsity girls track head coach Julie Alano said. “Some teams are on spring break and don’t attend the Indoor State meet.” Additional differences between the two venues include the events that students can participate in. Since discus throw cannot be conducted indoors, it is not included within the indoor track season. However, the Indoor State meet does include a distance medley relay which is not typically run outdoors and consists of four consecutive distances: 1200-meters, 400-meters, 800-meters and 1600-meters. Scoring also differs within this event as relays double the points. Regarding the team’s outlook on the season, strong history is carrying members forward. Currently, five past students are competing in college, three of them being under the Division I level. There are also several new students on
the team in addition to returning varsity members. Ultimately, the upcoming indoor track season has different meets with key dates to attend throughout the season. Primarily, there are qualifier meets that come before the Indoor State meet. The second qualifier consists of all of the Hamilton County Conference (HCC) teams. The Indoor State meet is Saturday, March 28 at Indiana University in Bloomington. “We are solid in all 16 events and will have a highly ranked team again this year,” Alano said. “We don’t put too much emphasis on the indoor meets, but I know that the girls are ready to compete and show what they can do.” Regardless of the changes that come with different venues, the future is bright for the season. The track team will always be inspired to bring their best to what comes their way. Story by Katelynn Penrod and Megan Tooman.
ATHLETE OF THE ISSUE TRAIT: PERSISTENCE Sophomore Regan Wans is a member of cross country and track teams and has been running since second grade. Wans was also a participant of 4 x 8 county track event, along with continuing the sport despite multiple injuries. “[After an injury] I remember thinking that I would never run again. After many months of tears and and trusting the process, I made my way back to running. Now, I’m ready for the new season and prepared to go even harder than the last.” Regan Wans, 10 “She battled through injuries all year long and kept going. It would’ve been easy for her to quit, but she never did.” Nathan Price, Asst. Cross Country Coach HSENEWS
15
