When runners take their mark, hear the crack of the gunshot and slam their Spikes against the track, track athletes push themselves to the limit as they give every event their all.
This track season started off strong, offering many opportunities for determined student athletes to succeed. Beginning in January, Head Girls Coach Matt George has been training athletes five days a week. During practices, he has learned a lot about the capabilities of the athletes.
“We’re learning how to ‘track’ and work together,” George said. “We are still figuring out who’s good at what and who can do what.”
George has a positive outlook on the rest of the season and believes it is important for the team to keep a healthy mindset. He believes that not only can the individual’s mindset affect the level at which they perform, but it has the potential to elevate the mindset of the team as well.
“It’s that you’ve got to have a good mindset so you can accomplish tough things,” George said. “If you’re negative about it, it doesn’t affect just you, it affects the people around you.”
For meets, McGuinness enters at 17 events and three athletes per event. Freshman Lainey Sylvester competes on Varsity in the high jump, long jump, 4×100 and 4×200. She is enjoying her season so far.
“My teammates and my coaches are all so great,” Sylvester said. “It makes it a lot more fun.”
Sylvester has a personal goal of jumping over 5 feet 2 inches feet for high jump and believes that practicing and mindset can help her achieve this goal.
“I go every single day after school,” Sylvester said. “Every single person on the team is so encouraging and just really helpful.”
Head Boys Coach Scott Stevenson agrees with George and Sylvester about how mindset can have a direct effect on improvement. Stevenson, who coaches the sprinters and relay teams, and looks for small improvements in his athletes each week.
“As we set out through the season, our times and our distances hopefully get better as we proceed from the start of the season in March to the end of the season in May,” Stevenson said. “As long as you’re looking from week to week to see those little bit of improvements, it’s easier to keep a positive mindset.”
The track team competes today at the Ponca City Invitational and Saturday at the WestMoore Invitational.
