With track season starting on Monday, February 24th, athletes feel a range of emotions about the beginning of the season. Many are excited to see the outcomes but others are more nervous about competing at a high level. Track is a very diverse sport because of the different events that take place and the team component of track makes it special for many members.
Since November 2024, runners have been doing strength training in the weight room to prepare for the upcoming season. They typically do workouts like Norwegian circuits. A Norwegian circuit is a combination of running, lifting, and med ball workouts. The speed and strength components make it an ideal workout for track athletes. Other runners chose to run on their own and focus on endurance rather than speed and keeping consistency in their running. The hope is that with preseason training, athletes start the season at their previous best from other seasons leaving lots of room for improvement this season and not having to earn back what they lost in the off season.
Sophomore Jaeda VanZante said, “I’m excited. I haven’t done track since middle school and I’m ready to start running again in a team setting.”
The 2025 girls track team is following a simple acronym to help them be prepared this season. The acronym they’re following is A.P.E.X. The A in A.P.EX. stands for attitude, encouraging the athletes to stay positive about practicing. The P stands for precision which encourages the athletes to try their best on the track and do the workouts effectively. The E represents effort encouraging athletes to give their all while working out and not just going through the motions. Finally the X stands for X-factors which are things that the coaches can’t control but can affect your performance. An example of an X-factor could be hydration, proper nutrition, or bringing the right equipment for practice so you are set up for success. Some people have decided to make their own word to follow through the season. For example, Anna Dobson, a freshman, has decided to make her personal word “grit.”
She says, “To be a successful runner you have to push yourself when it gets hard and keep going.”
This season, some challenges have arisen along with some new opportunities. This past year, stress fractures have been very common in runners causing some athletes to cross train in ways such as biking or even swimming to help keep them in shape while recovering. Some people have been pushed out of their comfort zone this year and have tried new events they have no prior experience with. Dobson was asked this year to try hurdles because of her height and ability to run fast and jump. Dobson has been a high jumper in previous years and she has been successful at it leading the coaches to want her to try hurdles.
Dobson says, “I’m excited to try something new and experience different races. I’m a little nervous but I know the coaches won’t put me in an event I’m unprepared for.”
There are high hopes for girls track this year. Girls cross country won state in the fall setting high expectations for track and field. From the beginning of the season Head Coach, Dak Rasmussen has expressed an anticipation and longing to be state champions this year. It is likely the team will qualify for state but the team will have to persevere to become champions. The athletes experience a mix of feelings during the track season and many emphasize the importance of carrying on when things get hard.
Freshman Phenix Gibbs, shares, “It’s a very mental sport, but I like the team aspect of it and sometimes it’s hard to be happy with the outcomes but that’s what makes track different from other sports. Just the range of emotions you feel.”
There is high anticipation to see how this season plays out for the girls track team. We are all waiting to see the success the team has and what they can accomplish together. Lets see if the Pella Dutch can hang another state title flag from the rafter!
