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How Track Athletes Are Dealing with the Pandemic

COVID has taken a turn on Woodland and its athletes, especially the track members. During both the indoor and outdoor track seasons, there were many regulations made to keep the athletes safe but also created some obstacles. Some of these obstacles included shortened amounts of practices and having to wear masks. Indoor track suffered a bigger loss than outdoor track. With the loss of their track meets and the limited amount of practices, Olivia Sullivan, member of the indoor and outdoor track team, was very disappointed about her season, but managed to persevere through these obstacles.

“We only had a practice season, which means we weren’t able to have any meets,” Sullivan said, “which was really painful for a lot of us because we would track our progress and how we’re doing at our meets.”

Indoor track could only practice three times a week due to the regulations, which was hard on the track teammates. These athletes are used to practicing five days a week and staying in shape. Their practices were normally from Monday-Thursday, which would leave a four- day gap between practice, and that could take a toll on their bodies due to this long break.

“The gaps between practices would make it really hard to get back into it, and our bodies just would not be ready to go back into running after having that big break,” Sullivan explained.

Although the track team has suffered many losses, the team has been trying their hardest to stick together like a family. Kimmy Poulos, member of the indoor and outdoor track team, continues to work to have a good bond with her teammates.

“We hang out a lot and we’re a really close group. So just being a part of a team makes the track season more fun,” Poulos remarked.

While the indoor track season was greatly impacted the outdoor track season is also currently facing some obstacles.

“Right now, we have to wear masks throughout the practices and meets, which will be annoying, but manageable,” Poulos stated.

Wearing a mask while you’re running may seem awful, but to these track members just having to wear a mask and having meets is a relief. This season there will be meets, which as Sullivan said, the athletes will be able to track their progress during their meets which will improve their time and speed. The athletes are also back to practicing six days a week allowing the athletes to have better team building and preparing them for the season.

The track team has started to get back to their normal season. The athletes have gotten to have their meets and the NVLs are still able to occur on May 15th. Although there still were restrictions that created obstacles for the athletes, they have managed to persevere through it together and stay as a family.

Molly Sweet

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