OH track and field athletes have been working for a successful season, but with spring break approaching, they are starting to transition into the back half of the year with the outdoor season.
During the team’s full season, they do half indoors, with most of their meets taking place within other schools’ field houses. Then, after spring break and the weather warms, they transition outdoors.
“The environment is more positive and people are happier when it’s warm outside and it starts to get nice out. People start to get more involved,” said OH senior sprinter Alyssa Parker.
The challenge in transition stems from the exposure to the elements. While fresh air can be a welcome change, there are lots of ways events can be affected by the outdoors.
“The wind can be an enemy,” said junior pole-vaulter Hailey Nass, who recently became the ninth-highest pole-vaulter in OH history. “It can affect the way you run, the way you hold the pole, it can affect the bar…which can be a lot more challenging… It’s not ideal.”
However, there are some events where being in the elements outdoors can be very helpful.
“In my opinion, being outside helps, being in outside air helps your breathing during a race, and the turns are not as tight which makes it easier on your legs,” said senior distance runner Achyut Vavilala.
Despite the discrepancy in difficulty between events, everyone prepares for the elements the same way. The only way to get used to having to compete in the elements is to practice in the elements possible during an outdoor meet.
“Even if it’s raining, we’ll still practice, windy, we’ll still practice, and even if it’s cold, like 15 degrees, we’ll still practice to prepare for any possible circumstances,” said Nass.
Despite the possibility of less-than-desirable conditions, being outside has been a motivating factor for athletes in the past. After coming out of a dreary winter, the warm spring season brings a more positive outlook for the team.
“A lot of people, when we switch to outdoors, tend to PR and run faster… the more positive energy we have within the team the better we’re gonna do. The more we go out there and have fun the better we run,” said Parker.
The track and field team has had a very successful year so far, with these athletes alone accounting for three-fourths of the athletes to win Athlete of the Week this March.
“We have a solid team… Our coach definitely has a good plan for us this year and I can definitely see that we would succeed with all the talent we have,” said Nass.
Looking forward, the team has plenty of individual goals. With people trying to attain personal and school records as well as competing for titles in the area, it is important for these athletes to know what their objectives are as a team.
“Our team is really trying to bring a trophy home from State [this year],” said sophomore sprinter Dontrell Young.
The outdoor season will officially begin when athletes return from spring break, so OH is sure to see some great work being done by the team as they transition and continue to work toward the end of their year.
I am a senior at OH and so excited to be a Managing and Opinions Section Editor this year! I love working on 42Fifty, but I am also very involved in band and numerous honor societies here. Looking forward to doing great work this year!
Great article!