Being a sprinter on the track and field team all four years of high school I know first hand that it isn’t an easy sport at all. Just like football or basketball, the competition and intensity that you play with- you run with. I’ve run the four by one, four by two, and open 100 which are all high-paced sprinting events. My sophomore year my four by one relay team lead us to state, which is a huge accomplishment.

My junior year, in districts the track meet to determine if we go to state or not- I fell out of my blocks and it was labeled a “false start”. We were disqualified and to be honest the feeling of disappointment that I felt was like no other. We were the fastest four by one team at the meet, we were basically guaranteed a win but that one small mistake (which was my first time EVER false starting) led to the ending of our season. We all cried like babies, but I took it as a lesson learned and now this year we’re back like we never left.,

Every year I’ve run in high school my 4×100 relay team has been the conference & district champions. Who would’ve ever known that besides us though? My teammates and I often feel like we get overlooked- simply because its Track. All of our accomplishments don’t get recognized around our school as they would for other sports is how we feel. It’s not a sport that’s as exciting to football or basketball- to some people.

To us, it’s even more exciting. Your heart racing and pounding as you hear your event being called through the speakers. All the way up until’ “Ready. Set…go” and you hear that gun. When you’re in open events you’re on your own, you can’t depend on anyone to catch you up and win the race it’s all on you. In relay events, you’re responsible for yourself and how you run your race while you’re also responsible for making sure the team’s handoffs are smooth. You have to be in shape, you have to have good running form, and you have to have the endurance for your race. Track is more than just running to us.