The sound of feet hitting the ground as you run. Three season athletes hear this sound throughout the whole school year. Many student athletes at Woodland choose to be one of these three season athletes: running cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track. These athletes include Colin Slavin, Eric Meade, Kimberly Poulos, Chloe Poulos, Chase Young, Carl Cicchetti, Bryce DiGiovanna, Jimmy Schwarz, Gabe Diamante, and Andrew Orlowski.
To be able to run for each season you have to stay in good shape, which is a challenging task.
“I feel like a lot of running in general is just consistency, so you just have to train your body to get used to it and to build up to it,” said Chloe Poulos when asked how she was able to keep her body in good shape.
“Prioritizing recovery, drinking water, stretching, all that stuff is what is able to keep me doing all three seasons,” said Colin Slavin, cross country and track captain.
“We are so close to winning NVLs (in track and field), I want to help get an NVL banner for not just cross country,” said Eric Meade about his goals.
The Track teams have come close to winning NVLs. The boys indoor track team lost a meet to Naugatuck by two points.
Along with the physical aspect, it takes a lot of mental preparation to run for each season. Being strong in the head is a key part to being a three season athlete. Motivation is something that helps with this challenge.
When asked about what motivates him, Schwarz stated, “My teammates, definitely my teammates. It’s a pretty corny answer but like the team is probably the big reason I do the sports.”
Meade also had a similar answer: “I really like all the people on the team, and I really want a record in something.”
Having a strong head for running also helps in school. Colin Slavin, Class of 2022’s Valedictorian, has to manage a sport for each season and maintain high grades.
“I feel like my time management is what has been able to keep me able to be successful in both and knowing when I am at practice to only focus on practice, and when I am doing my homework or studying to only be doing that. I never let the two intertwine,” said Slavin.
Six three season seniors will leave Woodland and graduate, those being Slavin, Meade, the Poulos twins, Young, and Cicceti. This leaves spots for new leaders in the program.
Schwarz described being a leader as “You just kind of have to dedicate yourself to the sport as long as you help others.”
A small piece of advice Chloe stuck by in order to be a three season athlete for so long was a small piece of advice: “Definitely enjoy yourself. If you’re not enjoying it, then you’re going to burn yourself out mentally and physically; you’re not going to be well in general. And also work hard and have fun.”
