Each week, a group of athletes gather with volunteer coaches to develop workouts in preparation for the upcoming track and field season. The athletes who participated in early conditioning were presented with the opportunity to attend indoor track meets during the winter months. Although these meets were optional, several students expressed interest in attending them, which aided the informal creation of an indoor track team.
The workouts performed by student athletes varied in an attempt to build the muscles most utilized during each track event. According to Coach Miranda Santa, who is also a mathematics teacher at the high school, exercises typically included plyometrics, technique development, weight lifting and cardio.
“[The exercises help] for me to do better in the events I am participating in,” Gregory Kline (9) said. Kline aims to compete in the 400-meter relay and shot put during the spring season.
Students who were iterested in participating in indoor track meets had the opportunity to travel to college campuses to verse other schools from Western Pennsylvania. These meets consisted of boys and girls meter dashes, hurdles and relays, with freshmen Wyatt Miller (9) and Cooper Brien (9) competing in the meter relays.
Other students, including Aurea Hickenboth (12), Noah Chaousy (11), and Gus Hickenboth (9), compete in other categories offered in indoor track meets. Aurea Hickenboth competes in pole vault, Gus Hickenboth competes in the 60-meter, long jump and triple jump and Chaousy competes in the 60-meter hurdle and 400-meter relay.
“At the meets, I try to do more events and higher meter events to make sure my endurance will be better for the spring season,” Chaousy said. “The indoor training is also good [because] people motivate each other to do more.”
There are a few key differences between indoor and outdoor track events. Besides the difference in competition environment, a few events typically seen during the spring season are altered or removed entirely for indoor meets. Boys and girls hammer, discus and javelin are three of the activities not seen in indoor events. The same applies vice versa; some events are specialized for indoor track specifically, including the 60-meter hurdle and weight throw.
Despite these differences, only one affects students in particular: the 60-meter hurdle. Even though this is not featured in the regular season, the event served as training for the spring.
The Bulldogs began attending indoor track meets in early January. Their first meet was at Youngstown State University’s (YSU) Watts Indoor Facility, where no students received high places, but Chaousy broke his personal record in the 60-meter hurdle. The following week, the group returned to YSU and broke more personal records. Chaousy beat his record in the 400-meter and Gus Hickenboth developed a personal record in the triple jump.
“I have been training six days a week, with Sunday as a rest day,” Chaousy said, in regards to how he aims to keep improving. “[I have been] going to all the indoor practices to improve myself with the coaches’ help.”
On Jan. 25, students traveled north to a new location for competition: Edinboro University. Chaousy broke his 400-meter record set at YSU and Gus Hickenboth set another personal record. Brien and Miller were able to get themselves on the board with the other athletes at this meet.
The indoor track meets xtended throughout the month along with the weekly conditioning. These two athletic opportunities combined are preparing students for the track and field season ahead.
“Everyone is getting in shape early for outdoor. Everyone gets practice in their events at the indoor meets in a way that you can’t reproduce inside the school.” Aurea Hickenboth said.