Snow covers the ground, and the temperature is dropping, but the boys indoor track team is getting heated, placing top five at their first few meets and even capturing a first place win.
One contributor to the success of the team is junior Lucas Palma, he has been doing track since he was in the 5th grade. Seeing that Palma has been on the team so long he barely gets anxious before a meet.
“It’s right before the race that I get nervous and my heart starts beating really fast,” Palma said.
Palma’s way of calming down before a race is telling himself that it’s “only seven seconds,” and he knows the team has his back when the meets over. Palma also looks forward to the ride home with his teammates.
“Win or lose it’s just really fun and like I just love being with the team,” Palma said. “Last year we were on the bus coming home and I remember we were arguing over a dumb water bottle. It was so funny when the coach was yelling at us and we couldn’t stop laughing. It was so fun I don’t even know how to describe it.”
Sophomore Devin VanAvery, started his journey on the team as a freshman and looks forward to this year’s season and the ones ahead of him. He started track to help him gain endurance for his football season and has grown passionate about it.
“My favorite part of the team is just getting together with all my buddies talking and pushing to just get better,” VanAvery said.
VanAvery does an assortment of events including hurdles and long jump.
“At first it was kind of just for fun. The one I like the most is definitely hurdles,” VanAvery said, “I like the feeling of getting over the bar and getting a PR, and just trying to push myself.”
The boys track team has created several bonds and lifelong friendships.
“Freshman year I was new I was just starting to get to know a bunch of the guys in the grade above me and I got to create that first bond with all of them,” VanAvery said, “Join track if you’re thinking about it, it’s a good time getting to know everyone.”
