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Lindsey Smith

   From district champions to regional finals, both the boys and girls track team have given their all this season. Ever since the beginning, all of the players had achievable goals that were ultimately met by the end of it. With seniors at the forefront, they were able to lead the team to victories on and off the track. 

   As for the cross country season, the boys and girls team both set themselves up for a good year. The girls started it off by winning regionals, and the boys followed up by winning states, this being the first time in school history. In reality, their season started last summer when both teams had training sessions requiring tons of conditioning.

   Once the track season began, both teams were feeling all the emotions and were creating a strong bond together. Unlike previous seasons, the team as a whole had a lot more PR’s, ran a lot faster and made a lot more progress towards the end goal this year. 

   One thing that really held all of these athletes together was the motivations they got from their other teammates. For instance, Alejandro De Bastos, who is only a sophomore, won a district championship for the school and led the team to regionals. Alejandro ran 1600 & 3200 meters but that does not mean that De Bastos was satisfied with his performance. He says, “I had done the first 3 laps fairly well but then in the last 200 meters my body began to shut down and I wasn’t able to pull out a finish like I normally do so that’s definitely something I’ll work on for states.”

  With Alejandro’s success, other athletes from both boys and girls began to take their places on the board as well. Along with having motivation, many of these athletes have a routine that they do before taking the field—whether it’s listening to music, stretching, or giving themselves a short pep talk before they get set. 

   Diego Torres, placing third for Javelin and the 800 meter, says, “Deciding when to go past someone or conserve your energy can make a big difference in your performance.” 

   These young men clearly did not disappoint anyone cheering them on. Nicolas Pacini, Andres Gaviria and Iyman Youssouf also had a great meet. Pacini won 2nd for Javelin, Youssouf placed 4th place with 400mh, and Gaviria won 4th place with a 3200. 

   Aside from the victories of the boys track team, the girls also had some amazing moments as well. Senior Gabriella Kinsey got 3rd place with a 3200 and 4th place with a 1600. She has been with this team since her freshman year and really poured her heart into this last meet. Kinsey aimed to show her determination this season, proving her full potential as she gets ready for college. 

   Just like the rest, she felt confident about her events, but was very nervous as she needed to keep the competition up. Gabriella says, “You start looking around saying, ‘Oh no she’s definitely fast’, but if you go into the race thinking you’re not fast enough it’s going to reflect on your running.” Despite this, Gabriella challenged herself and try new things throughout the season. She furthermore says, “When we want something we’re going to chase after it… literally!” This season will surely be unforgettable as she continues to set new records!

   Among the list of track stars, Madison Toussaint won 4th place for Triple Jump and Lindsey Smith placing 4th for a 3200. The girls have maintained positivity, pushing themselves to do their best. Many of the athletes claimed that they were unable to feel their bodies after their events but that proves how hard they worked to achieve their goals. 

   As everyone waits suspense for their regional scores, these talented athletes hope to bring home hardware back to Charter for years to come.