Senior Emma Swanson has been involved in Woodland’s track team from the start. Since Swanson’s freshman year at Woodland, she has been an active member of the indoor and outdoor track team. Now, as an outdoor track captain, following her role as indoor track captain, it feels really special for her senior season.
As a talented thrower, she competes in the shot put, javelin, and discus events. Although her freshman year track season was mainly just conditioning rather than competitions, Swanson was still able to prepare for her upcoming years as a member of the track team, and now her title as senior captain. While indoor and outdoor track seasons are both very significant, outdoor track has a more special feel for Swanson.
“I prefer outdoor track just because I have more events, whereas with indoor I only have one event,” Swanson said. “With track meets, they don’t feel as long when I’m participating in more events.”
In addition to being excited for her final Woodland outdoor track season, there is also a different feel to this season. With the track currently being redone, the track team as a whole has had to work around this challenge.
“We’re currently practicing on the soccer field so a lot of our hurdlers, sprinters, jumpers, don’t have the opportunity to practice like they normally would, so for them we’re trying to figure out other ways that they can go to other high schools to get that practice in,” Swanson said.
Although this may seem like a challenge, the track team is prepared to overcome this barrier. With Swanson’s leadership as captain, she plans on trying to look at the positives.
“We’re just trying to look for the positives, it’s just something that we have to overcome and overall we’re just hoping for a good season and that everyone does well,” Swanson said.
As a senior captain, it’s more than overcoming challenges for Swanson. Being a team captain comes with responsibilities and leadership that she has clearly developed and demonstrated as a track athlete. It’s even more special for her as she was previously given the title of senior captain for the indoor track season as well.
“I’m really proud that I was given this title as captain just because I feel that I’ve worked hard over the four years,” Swanson noted.
Now, in her fourth and final year, she has high hopes and goals for the track team.
“For the team this year, I hope that everyone succeeds even though we don’t have the best of conditions. I’m really hoping for people to do well and just overall improve,” Swanson said.
It is beyond important to support the athletes around her and always encourage them to move forward and try their best; Swanson has clearly demonstrated this in the past and will continue to prove her worth of the title of track captain.
“I’m always trying to encourage my teammates and give them advice, and just make sure they stay positive and I think that’s the most important thing to me.”
