By David Garcia
Run, jump and hurdle your way to the stadiums because track season is underway.
The Track runners started practicing for the 2022 track season back in January and the comp season started on Thursday, February 17 at the South West High School Joe Marsh Dragon Relays . Our track team opened the season by delivering a powerful performance against schools like Holmes Jefferson, and many more by winning 1st place for all four teams consisting of Varsity Boys, Varsity Girls, JV Boys, and JV girls.
Going into her sophomore year, Destiny Williams opened her season with four first-place medals that she earned at the Dragon relays. She got first in every event she ran, consisting of the 800 meter, 1600 meter (mile), 3200 meter (2 mile), and long jump. Even though Destiny says that she gets “nervous of how she’ll perform” before she runs, she says “ when I’m running, all I can think about is that finish line,” and that’s what gives her motivation to give it her all.
3rd-year head coach for girls and long-distance Coach Summers, is prepared for upcoming events. “Moving forward, our runners are getting both mentally and physically tougher which will hopefully take us a long way. As a coach, I have to look at things differently than they do. I look at the progress they make more than the (placement) times they’ve run. In crazy weather conditions, if we get close to a PR (personal record) or at least run hard and compete, I’m good with that.”
Over the span of his four years running at Madison, Rex Pantoja has had 8 running seasons through track and cross country. With this being his senior year, this track season will be his last with the Madison uniform on. Rex describes his last season as “bittersweet.” “Yeah I’m excited to graduate and everything but I don’t know if I’m ready to leave running behind because I’ll genuinely miss it and my team is like my school family.” All four years, Rex had been hoping to secure a spot on the 4×4 team because of the new head boys coach, Coach Woods. He finally got the chance as he helped contribute to the team getting gold. “I was really nervous to run it (the 4×4) because obviously, I was scared I would mess it up for everyone, but when I got the baton, I felt like it gave me superpowers.”