Track and field Jumps Right Into Meets
Track athletes work hard to meet their goals of qualifying for CCS championships.
By Tatiana Viera
Track athletes work hard to meet their goals of qualifying for CCS championships.
By Tatiana Viera
Running and jumping into the season, track and field athletes are looking forward to the remainder of the 2023 spring season.
Along with meets, track and field also participates in invitationals which allows athletes to compete against others in no more than four events per invitational. For league meets, the team competes in the Blossom Valley Athletic League in the Mount Hamilton Division.
Teams are limited to 15 meets and invitationals for each season and are not allowed to participate in multiple meets in a day. This season they will partake in eight invitationals, one for distance events only and three for qualifying athletes that have been invited.
“They can sometimes do events that they may not do during a league meet,” said coach Marc Klemencic. “Since we don’t focus on team scoring as much. It helps them build confidence.”
Nylah Lemus, 12, enjoys being on the track team because it allows her to live a healthier lifestyle even though it takes up a lot of time.
“I started running cross country sophomore year because all my friends wanted me to do it and I really liked cross country so then joined track,” said Lemus.
Coaching for 10 years, Klemencic stays with the team because he loves seeing the athletes learn and improve while also keeping their love for the sport.
“I think doing a sport teaches them how to build social skills and helps them grow and mature. They build friendships that may last their whole life, develop leadership abilities and learn how to be humble and gracious in victory and defeat,” said Klemencic.
While also playing soccer and having to manage her schedule, Ava Corcoran, 9, loves her team and enjoys competing at track meets in sprinting events.
“I like that everyone is there to support each other and everyone wants the best for one another. Someone’s always helping someone else with form or other advice that can help them improve,” said Corcoran. “Track is a fun way to hangout with your friends as well. Everyday when I go to track I have a group of friends that make it easier and more enjoyable.”
As a pole vaulter, Dylan Rosenthal, 10, is looking forward to getting better throughout the season with his friends by his side.
“I am starting to feel accomplished, since practice is yielding higher clearances in pole vault,” said Rosenthal.
The team has more freshmen this year, which allows them to set a better foundation as they continue track throughout their high school career.
“We have a great group of returning athletes and many new young talented athletes with great attitudes that will help build a strong foundation for the team in the future,” said Klemencic. “I feel our team is very competitive in the A league.”
As the team continues throughout the season, Klemencic is confident that the team will improve.
“Track and field is a sport where improvement and ability is quantifiable. Events are either timed or measured, so there’s a clear measure to see improvements. You can’t expect to improve every time you step on the track and compete, but we celebrate hard work and effort and really love to recognize improvements when they happen,” said Klemencic.
Along with meets, track and field also participates in invitationals which allows athletes to compete against others in no more than four events per invitational. For league meets, the team competes in the Blossom Valley Athletic League in the Mount Hamilton Division.
Teams are limited to 15 meets and invitationals for each season and are not allowed to participate in multiple meets in a day. This season they will partake in eight invitationals, one for distance events only and three for qualifying athletes that have been invited.
“They can sometimes do events that they may not do during a league meet,” said coach Marc Klemencic. “Since we don’t focus on team scoring as much. It helps them build confidence.”
Nylah Lemus, 12, enjoys being on the track team because it allows her to live a healthier lifestyle even though it takes up a lot of time.
“I started running cross country sophomore year because all my friends wanted me to do it and I really liked cross country so then joined track,” said Lemus.
Coaching for 10 years, Klemencic stays with the team because he loves seeing the athletes learn and improve while also keeping their love for the sport.
“I think doing a sport teaches them how to build social skills and helps them grow and mature. They build friendships that may last their whole life, develop leadership abilities and learn how to be humble and gracious in victory and defeat,” said Klemencic.
While also playing soccer and having to manage her schedule, Ava Corcoran, 9, loves her team and enjoys competing at track meets in sprinting events.
“I like that everyone is there to support each other and everyone wants the best for one another. Someone’s always helping someone else with form or other advice that can help them improve,” said Corcoran. “Track is a fun way to hangout with your friends as well. Everyday when I go to track I have a group of friends that make it easier and more enjoyable.”
As a pole vaulter, Dylan Rosenthal, 10, is looking forward to getting better throughout the season with his friends by his side.
“I am starting to feel accomplished, since practice is yielding higher clearances in pole vault,” said Rosenthal.
The team has more freshmen this year, which allows them to set a better foundation as they continue track throughout their high school career.
“We have a great group of returning athletes and many new young talented athletes with great attitudes that will help build a strong foundation for the team in the future,” said Klemencic. “I feel our team is very competitive in the A league.”
As the team continues throughout the season, Klemencic is confident that the team will improve.
“Track and field is a sport where improvement and ability is quantifiable. Events are either timed or measured, so there’s a clear measure to see improvements. You can’t expect to improve every time you step on the track and compete, but we celebrate hard work and effort and really love to recognize improvements when they happen,” said Klemencic.