Many senior track athletes are approaching the end of their athletic careers at the high school level. Upon the beginning of the outdoor track season, they geared up to accomplish goals that have long been in their mind’s eye, to lead their team for one final time, and to make impressions that will ultimately outlive them.

Many seniors have been looking forward to the outdoor track season for some time now, and are excited for everything it has to offer over the next several months.

“The thing I’m looking forward to the most is spending time with my friends, and also spending time outside in the warmer weather, and competing against other teams, and hopefully watching my teammates succeed,” said thrower Emma Swanson.

For all the rewarding and fun aspects of outdoor track that many look forward to, senior track athletes understand the impending challenges which come with not having a track this season; yet, they choose to remain positive.

“This track season, I’m looking forward to the team being optimistic even though we don’t have a track,” runner and pole vaulter, Robert Gugliotti said, “I feel like it will bring us closer since we all have to work through it together.”

Many athletes are being taken out of their usual environment, so they can access a functioning track, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“I’m looking forward to going to practice at other schools a couple of times a week. I’ll be able to practice my events and meet new people from the neighboring schools,” explained runner and jumper, Jamie Shaffer.

In many respects outdoor track will be redefined this season, and the limits of what was or will be are going to be tested.

“Our practices are a little different because we have to practice on the soccer field, so we are currently trying to figure out how to get our jumpers and sprinters to a track so they can practice, and succeed,” elaborated Swanson.

Still, this setback hasn’t prevented senior athletes from setting high goals and aspirations for their final high school season.

While Gugliotti said, “This season, I want to get to states for pole vault which would be 10.6 m, and then I want to get under five minutes 15 seconds in my mile.”

Swanson has goals of repeating past excellence and more.

“This upcoming season I would like to make all NVL again. I would also like to hit over 100 in 15 feet in discus, and hopefully 35 in shot put, so that’s a personal goal set, and then maybe even go to Nationals that would be a huge goal for me,” said Swanson.

Other athletes are basing their goals on their indoor track accomplishments.

“I want to make state opens this year and break the school record because I was very close to both of those goals in indoor track,” Shaffer explained.

Many seniors have their eye on specific times, qualifying classes, and ranks, but among those goals are also aspirations to experience everything the sport has to offer before their final days.

“This year I want to go to a Heptathlon which is a two-day meet that consists of seven different track events. I’ve been trying to run in this meet since sophomore year but it never worked out so this year is the year,” Shaffer said.

Track has so much to offer, and from that breeds goals and dreams of accomplishing many different things, and many seniors want to spread this message while leaving an impression on a team where so many things can happen.

“I want to teach the younger classmen how much the sport has to offer because there are a lot of different disciplines in it. A lot of people have the misconception that track is just running, but there are a lot of other things you can do: you have all three throwing events, you can do pole vault, high jump, long jump, triple jump; these are all different options other than running, and there’s also a lot of different types of running, so I just want to open everyone’s eyes up to opportunities they have within the sport,” Swanson said.

With a diverse sport and large team comes challenges as well.

“I want to have everyone be together,” said Gugliotti. “It’s a big team so I feel like our biggest struggle is having everyone stay together, and if we can achieve that we would be a much stronger team.”

While some seniors strive to spread a message, others hope that younger athletes will look up to them as a role model.

“I want the underclassmen to see my determination and energy as a captain and an athlete so track can be something they look forward to coming to every day and get hyped for meets,” said Shaffer.

Ultimately, senior track athletes this season are ready to embrace anything thrown their way, achieve their goals, and be remembered in the minds of many for the quality athletes that they are.