After transitioning from middle school track, many underclassmen have made an impact on the track program this season. These underclassmen had an opportunity to make their mark at home in the varsity and JV Early Bird Invitational meet on March 27, the JV Invitational track meet at home on March 30, and the varsity Coach Beardslee Invite at Washburn Rural on April 2.
Freshman Grace Toner, who placed first in the 800-meter race and 4×800-meter relay at the Early Bird Invitational, started track in seventh grade and later broke the West Middle School records for the 800 and 1,600-meter races. Toner said that high school track has been more organized than middle school track and that it has been a good environment. She said that although being a freshman can bring more nerves, she also likes being an underdog at meets, as it provides motivation.
“I definitely push myself harder, and then other people make me go harder by also having similar goals as me,” Toner said.
Toner said one of her goals for this season is to drop her 800 and 1600 meter racetimes, and she hopes to set a school record one day.
Sophomore Harrison Leiszler, who placed eighth in the 100-meter dash and fourth in the 200-meter dash at the Coach Beardslee Invite, competes primarily in the 100, 200 and 400-meter sprints. He also set a record at West Middle School in the 4×200-meter relay and competed on varsity and in regionals last year. Leiszler said that high school track comes with some new challenges for underclassmen to get used to.
“The competition is so much bigger, and [there is] a wider range of schools that you face and better athletes now that it’s four grades rather than two,” Leiszler said.
However, he said he still stays motivated, and he wants to break the school record in the 400-meter sprint one day, though he says it will be a challenge.
Freshman Keanu Kranke competes in the 800 and 1,600-meter races, which he has been competing in for 2 years, and placed fourth in the 800-meter race at the JV Invitational Meet. Kranke participates in summer track with Hot Feet Track Club, where he had the opportunity to compete in AAU Track and Field Regionals. He said that track has given him the opportunity to meet new people who challenge him.
“Success [is] being able to meet new friends, and setting goals for myself. I would say [success is] finding out who I am as a person,” Kranke said.
