The track team had its first meet on Saturday, March 3. At the start of the season, Coach Dan Oren implemented new training regimens to improve the abilities of distance runners.

Compared to last year, when the practices were a bit more laid back, the team is undergoing a stricter regime in which Oren keeps a tight schedule for different runs and workouts each time. Oren has also introduced weight room workouts that are combined with long distance running.

Junior John Beutter is supportive of the changes that Oren has brought to the team.

“Dan … has increased our mileage which has been extremely beneficial to many of our runners,” John said.
Runners such as sophomore Dane Tippett and freshman Andrew Kang echo his sentiments in saying that the team is gearing up to compete.

“I’ve improved in both speed and endurance, mainly endurance,” Dane said. “It’s a little more intense this year.”

Dane has noticed improvements since his freshman year after training with the school cross country and track teams. Andrew credits the cross country season for his belief of how the first track season will end well for him personally and the team in general.

“I just feel more fit,” Andrew said. “I feel ready.”

The field event athletes are pushing themselves just as hard to improve this season. Senior Catherine Li practices with three different coaches.

“Beginning a new season is almost like taking a step backward because it’s so hard to get back into the right rhythms and techniques,” Catherine said.

But the entire track and field team and the coaches are “creating a sense of unity and bonding” according to junior Claire Bowie. The varsity runners and jumpers attended a leadership camp on Saturday, February 25 to “figure out leadership techniques and set goals for the team.” This camp helped the varsity members become better examples for the new runners to look to and unify the team through school spirit and support for each other.

“You can really see how hard those people are working to be good supportive leaders for the other runners,” Claire said.

With returning runners that have made it to state and hardworking athletes, the track and field team believes that their daily practices and their effort will allow them to make this season a successful one.