SPRINTING AHEAD Girls Track team hopes for return to glory days

By Cameron Harris Assistant Editor

This season, the girl’s track team is ready to get back up top. This team has recently won several state championships as well as state runner-ups, and they are excited to reach that potential once again. With a lot of athletes being ranked highly in the state for certain events, the girls are hopeful for their chances to return to greatness.

“I know some of us upperclassmen who have been on the team since freshman year have been to state before and gotten a ring and know what it feels like to win and we all want to have that feeling again,” junior Jacqueline Hartman said. This group of juniors mentioned is the class that saw many athletes qualify for the state meet their freshman year, including junior Laila Smith who qualified for not only Long Jump, but also the 300-meter hurdles. Smith experienced a season-ending injury last season and was not able to make it back to the state finals meet. Smith, along with many others ,hope that the bond between this group of athletes can and will help them along their road to state.

“Being able to stand on the podium in front of everyone and collect your medal makes it real. It is important to the team because it shows how far we have come as a team and how we all come together in different events to get points to win individually and together,” Smith said.

The togetherness of this team is a huge aspect of why they have found success this season, and why they have confidence in each other doing the best they can.

“Some things that make track enjoyable are getting to work out and improve with my friends and team every day. I also enjoy when I’m competing at meets and I PR in any event. It helps me know that I am improving and it makes me feel great when I know that I’m getting better,” junior Jila Vaden said.

Vaden is also a state finals meet hopeful, being one of the fastest athletes in the state, currently ranked top eight in the state for the 100-meter dash and the long jump.

Another thing that the team values and will use to help them in the road to state, is the leadership present on the team. The leaders for the Lady W arriors help keep the spirits of their teammates high and help motivate them to push through adversity to get the best results they can.

“Another goal for me and the team is to remain positive. It has been kind of a struggle since the indoor season and if we can continue trying to be positive, working hard, and taking it seriously we could have a good outdoor season and be ready for the state meet,” Smith said.