The girls’ track team is stacked with talent this year and the girls have one common goal, to win. One of the team’s most vital athletes, Jazmyn Menzies, is prepared to help carry the team to success.
Menzies, a junior at Woodland, has been involved with track since she was twelve years old and is an extremely multitalented athlete. Between the outdoor and indoor seasons excels in the four hundred event, four by four, four by one, high jump and the triple jump.
Menzies was also an important member during both years on the girls’ indoor team which won back to back NVL championships. She says her greatest personal achievement was when she qualified for states and state opening.
“Just the whole atmosphere and all the competition is great honestly,” said Menzies as she described her experience at states.
But these athletic achievements do not come easily. Menzies gives it her all, in and out of practice. During the two hour practices she has after school you could find Menzies lifting weights to improve her strength, doing box jumps or other exercises to bring more power to her legs, or practicing her form numerous amounts of times to get it near perfection. Out of practice, she eats healthy and avoids sugary snack and drinks. On occasion she will put in extra workouts and go for runs to be sure she sees results. She always gives it her best. Menzies also uses track to take some of the stress out of school work and classes.
Menzies explains that the team has become so close that the majority of her best friends are training beside her each day. They constantly push each other to be better.
“With all the relays we cheer each other on and push each other, sometimes to our breaking points,” Jazmyn said, “it’s fun though because when the race is really close we all line up on the last stretch of the track and just scream for each other.”
Menzies does a great job at keeping her school work and social life balanced while still meeting the demanding extra hours she puts into track. And she will see results.
“Hopefully she’ll jump farther and run faster,” said Tim Shea, one of the three coaches of outdoor track at Woodland, “I’m sure she has some of her own personal goals too. They may be challenging but if anybody is going to do it, I think she’s up to the task.”