The Tiger track team has exceeded expectations this spring, and with good reason. Both the Boys and Girls have shown their eager nature to not take what they lost last year for granted

Remarking on last season being cut short due to the coronavirus outbreak, and half of the team’s races were left unfinished. This year, the team sought redemption and churned out remarkable times and places. The Tigers’ last meet on April 14th resulted in a number of regional qualifiers, proving their determination to make up for last year’s premature end. 

The boys’ team excelled in both short and middle distance races. Senior Caden Miller placed first in the 110 meter hurdles and fourth in the 300 meter hurdles, qualifying for regionals in both. Junior Evan Likins’s 800 and 400 meter races landed him a spot in regionals as well. Both notable accomplishments were prepared for religiously. 

Miller exemplified sheer athleticism through his diligence in keeping up with practices and games from two sports.

“I have baseball practice after school, so I try to come in the morning a couple days and then get about 2-3 after-school practices in order to prepare,” Miller said.  “[I] typically work on block work, my starts on the 110, and conditioning for the 300 hurdles.”

In girls’ track and field, multiple athletes made outstanding performances at the district meet sending them to Regionals. Senior Cashlin Goodin qualified for regionals in the 100 and 300 meter hurdles, and Junior Bobbie Hatchet’s formidable performance resulted in her being champion of the 100 hurdles, moving her up to Regionals. Senior Fezeka Barnes had an outstanding come-from-behind finish in the 400 meter race as she crossed the line in third, qualifying her for the next level. Senior Mariza Paez competed in discus, also punching her ticket to the Regional meet. 

The girls’ notable results demonstrate their desire to redeem the unfinished races claimed by COVID-19 last year. 

“I was devastated when [last season] was cancelled; I feel like that time away from track put our team back a few steps,” Paez said. “There are no maybes when it comes to my girls putting in the hard work and dedication to accomplish their goals. With the phenomenal coaching staff to push us we were able to come back and compete. We accomplished great things [this season].”

With the pent-up energy from last meet’s winning results, the Tiger track team is bound to turn heads at regionals on April 23rd. It is no doubt that the noteworthy performance seen on Wednesday was the result from practice and dedication, and it will surely show in the races at regionals.