A track athlete, energized with her adrenaline for her upcoming event, takes off her winter jacket and begins to stretch. In between stretches, she catches a reassuring glance from her parents in the stands. Over the announcements, she hears that their event is about to begin. She walks over to the start of the track and gets in position to start running. With the loud bang of the starting pistol, the race had begun.
On Thursday, Feb. 6, friends and family came to cheer on their loved ones in the HHS fieldhouse. Huntley, Wauconda, Prospect, and Crystal Lake Central all participated in an open meet inside Huntley’s fieldhouse. In the end, Huntly won the meet with 84.5 points.
“The vibe of track meets can be a bit crazy, but it’s super fun,” sophomore shot put thrower Addison Byers said. “I love hanging out with my friends and getting to help out with other events, even the ones I don’t compete in.”
Byers has participated in track and field for three years. She first got into track and field in eighth grade. During the indoor season, she does shot put, but when the outdoor season comes around, she does discus too.
“It’s such an amazing bonding experience,” junior runner Addison Busam said. “We are pretty good, I mean two years ago were number one in the state and last year we were runner-up.”
In the off-season, many athletes try to keep up their endurance so that they will do well in the following season. With their dedication to the sport, Huntley often does well.
“I think that the hard work we put into this really shows that,” Busam said.
Ava Acevedo is another junior track athlete who started running last year, and she is currently competing in her second season.
“I feel like it is really nerve-racking, but once we are actually here and about to go, all of my nerves go away and I’m actually pretty calm,” Acevedo said.
The process of training for track and field can be a grueling task. It takes dedication and a love for the sport in order to stay consistent. Thanks to the athletes’ commitment and unwavering enthusiasm, Huntley came out on top at this meet.
