In an individual-based sport like track and field, it is easy to lose sight of the team aspect. It is very common to see runners leave after their events, or for a 100-meter runner to not cheer for someone running the 2-mile race. On the Huntley girls team, however, this is not the case.
While many weekday sports events are short and uneventful, the girls and their coaches managed to make this Monday’s meet full of fun and teamwork. Throughout the meet, the athletes interacted with one another by cheering, holding one another’s blocks, and building each other up when someone started to get nervous.
These positive attitudes also showed in their running and field event results.
On the track, the girls got a lot of good work in and there were a couple of personal records.
Within the sprinters, Huntley’s 4×100 and 4×200 meter teams dominated the track, winning both races. Along with a win from the 4×800 meter relay.
Many PRs were also set by throwers on the opposite side of the fences lining the track. Michelle Barnvos won the shot put with a throw of 10.55 meters and Emily Maynard won the Discus with a throw of 32.68 meters.
These accomplishments are celebrated at the end of the meet, where the team names their athlete and teammates of the meet. Athletes of the meet are girls who meet their goals and overall accomplish a lot in the day. Teammates of the meet are athletes who support one another and show a great amount of passion for the sport.
On Monday night, distance runner Brooke Garcia was named athlete of the meet after running the 800-meter race in 2 minutes 37 seconds, and creating a new record for herself in the 400-meter run. The coaches were very impressed with her performance and said she was an easy pick for this meet’s athlete.
The teammates of the meet went to Lenna Birns and Audrey Langhenry.
“[Birns] brings positivity and lifts her teammates up always,” Jason Monson said. “Langhenry also makes everyone around her better and stepped into the 4×8 on 15 minutes notice when one of our girls rolled her ankle in warmups.”
After an unfortunate incident, Langhenry was able to jump in and help out her team.
“I didn’t want the other people in the 4×8 to lose out on being able to compete if I was able to step in. In the end, they did really well, and I’m proud of them and everyone else in the meet. It was so amazing that so many people made personal records,” Langhenry said.
Overall, this meet did a very nice job of highlighting how hard work and a positive attitude can really pay off.
The team placed second against Prairie Ridge and Hampshire and will be back on the track this Saturday, May 22, and Sunday, May 23.