The beginning of track is one of the most exciting times for me. After a long season of soccer, another chapter in my life begins. There are different people, settings and challenges that I have to overcome in the winter and soon-to-be spring season of track.
This winter season will be my second time running at the Indoor Complex at Hagerstown Community college. Overall, this will be my third season running track.
In indoor track, there are specific track and field events. Events are limited though during the winter season. For example, there are shot put and pole vault, but there isn’t long jump or triple jump. For the track events, there are hurdles, open sprints and long distances and, finally, relays.
My events usually include the 500 open, 4×400 relay, pole vault, and 110m hurdles. This season, I hope to gain experience in every single event, either in a regular sprint with better times, or overcoming new heights – literally.
When I say new heights, I mean to vault higher than my personal record (PR) from last year. Pole vault is my favorite field event, and I hope that with much practice, I will exceed higher than 10’.
My dream from last year was to make states in pole vault. The height that I needed to clear was 10’6”. If I could improve by six inches, then I could possibly find my wait on a bus to PG County – the county where states are being held at. Making states is something that I strive for.
As a sophomore, making states would be phenomenal, but it won’t be easy. I need to have a lot of determination and practice, and with that my skill level would hopefully increase.
All of my focus for this season will be on pole vault, but I will sometimes practice for my other events. For hurdles, I hope to improve my three-step. A three-step is when you take only three steps in between each hurdle during the 110m hurdle sprint.
Honestly, I actually like to participate in hurdle sprints. This event isn’t my strongest, but for the indoor season, I’m going to be the main hurdler because the senior from last year graduated.
Open 500 sprints and relays are the other two events that I can improve in, as well. They’re basically just running, but everyone can always get better at that.
Basically, I need to improve my times and heights for all of my events during this track season. My overall goal is to make states for pole vault, but maybe just getting better for the outdoor season of track is what I should focus on. There is going to be a lot of weight on me for this indoor track season.
