For many athletes, the winter marks a period of rest, and relaxation until spring, but for runners trying to stay on track, the season is crammed with workouts, cooldowns, and more. With the Lebanon Trail track season on the horizon, students and coaches alike have begun preparation and goal-setting for the upcoming season.
Senior Alexander Wallace is beginning his fourth season of running the 100 and 200-yard dashes for Lebanon Trail. Wallace explains what drove him to join the team.
“I joined track freshman year because I thought it was an opportunity to compete in a sport during my high school years,” Wallace said. “I was already pretty good in middle school and it was something I was passionate about to begin with.”
Track coach Megan Kirby gives her reasoning for why students should consider joining.
“Track is actually a great team sport,” Kirby said, “so there’s a lot of team-building involved. It also just helps you get healthy and build discipline, so it’s just a great experience overall.”
Preparation for a track meet is vital for success. Wallace shares his routine to get his mind and body ready for the race.
“When it comes to the meets, I usually like to listen to music and do a lot of warming up,” Wallace said. “I am the type of person who is very quiet and focused during meets so that I can perform my best. I like to stretch a lot to ensure no injuries and I can run my best race when it is time because every millisecond counts!”
With enough determination and practice under their belts, many athletes aim to accomplish their personal goals. Kirby explains her goals for herself and her students.
“We just want all of our athletes to succeed,” Kirby said. “We have a bunch of new athletes that are eager to get started, so we’re hoping this season will be the most exciting yet.”
Similarly, Wallace set his own personal goals for his events.
“My goal this year is to become a 5A Texas state champion! I want to run in the 100 in 10.3 seconds, 20.9 seconds or better in the 200, and 48 seconds in the 400,” Wallace said. “The Lebanon Trail boys have never had a state champion and I want to be the first! I want to rewrite the school record books.”
For all of its competitors and coaches, track season is a time of exercise, fun, and team building. Kirby shares her favorite parts of the sport.
“I just love getting to know all of the students,” Kirby said. “They’re all so talented and great people, so it’s a great experience going through the season with all of them and seeing how they grow.”
