Written by Sadie Kolodner

After returning from an intense spring training trip, the Outdoor Track and Field team started off the season strong with multiple wins in their recent relay meet at Masters!

With a outstanding number of 90 athletes on the 2024-2025 outdoor track team roster, the girls captains, Keira Zheng ‘25, Mary Grace Eubanks ‘25, Alexa Daddi-Melino ‘25, Susie Geller ‘25, and Taeko Fueno ‘25, and the boys captains, Luke Stronski ‘25, Esaias Gonzalez ‘25, and Joaquin Gonzalez ‘25 have a lot ahead of them this season.  

Over spring break the team went to IMG academy for five days. A typical day at IMG was full of rigorous training with a three or four hour practice in the morning then afternoon practice either on the track or in the weight room. Despite the high intensity, they broke it up with many fun team bonding activities, such as spending a day at Busch Gardens or going bowling. Zheng noted, “Spending so much of the day together allowed the team to get to know each other both on and off the track. By getting closer with each other we were more confident in supporting each other on the track.” 

One of the team’s biggest challenges this year was the large number of new runners. With the spring training trip and mentorship of older teammates, the new runners were quickly able to get the flow of things. 

But how exactly does track and field work? As explained by Zheng, “We are all one big team. There are 20 different events that range from running, throwing, and jumping. Each person can score points if they place in their designated category. As a team you see which category gets the most points.” Seemingly, the variety of events, between individual and team events, attracts a large number of athletes each year. 

Looking ahead, a few of the track athletes qualified for the Penn Relays, the oldest and largest international track and field competition in the United States, bringing together almost 15,000 athletes. We will be wishing them luck as they compete on April 24 – 26, at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Later on in the season, the team is going back to Masters on May 10 hoping to win their 3rd consecutive FAA championships. Although all of the track events are away, there are always ways to reach out and support your classmates.