Junior high track finishes successful season

JUMP+-+8th+grader+Camille+Quirin-Morris+participates+in+the+high+jump+during+a+junior+high+track+meet+during+the+2021+season.

Photo courtesy of Carolyn Quirin-Morris

JUMP – 8th grader Camille Quirin-Morris participates in the high jump during a junior high track meet during the 2021 season.

The 2020 PASD junior high track team did not have its season due to COVID-19. However, they were able to have a season this year. Practices began in March, and the team had five meets. Some of these meets had to be rescheduled, though, due to coronavirus cases. Some of the events for girls and boys were the one hundred yard dash, one hundred yard hurdles, two hundred yard dash, four hundred yard dash, eight hundred yard race, mile race, relays, throwing, and jumping. The junior high track team also lifted in the weight room certain days after practice. Practice was everyday after school at the high school track, and optional practices were offered on Saturday mornings for event work before meets started.

I have asked a few team members what they liked most about track and field, and this is what they said:

Lauren Kelly said, “I loved how supportive everyone was no matter the outcome. It was like our own track family.”

Aubrey Snyder said, “I liked doing the 4 by 1 relay because our team was really good, and it was fun to do! I also loved doing the 100 and 200 because it helped me work on my speed, and that was my main goal for track. The practices and bus rides were so much fun too!”

Hadley Snyder said, “I loved our 4 by 1 relay the most because we were our team’s fastest girls, and we were undefeated (for most of the season). When we dropped the baton at our last home meet, we were all disappointed that we got disqualified. However, this taught us that everyone’s not perfect all the time, and you aren’t going to have a perfect race every single meet.”

All in all, I personally had a great time doing track, and all of my friends did as well! I highly recommend joining the team if you can next season, because you will be bettering yourself and making many new friends along the way!