As the snow starts to melt away and the sun begins to shine down on the track, Yutan’s athletes prepare for the upcoming track and field season with excitement. Head girls track coach Joel Carrillo is aiming to start the season strong and healthy.
“We are currently getting conditioned for our first meet, meaning we are focusing on low-volume, high-intensity workouts to get everyone’s body prepared and ready for the season,” Carrillo said.
Compared to last spring, Carrillo wants to put more emphasis on the intensity of each rep along with adequate rest for the sprinters and consistent conditioning for distance runners.
“Focusing on those things will allow us coaches to ask the same demands the next day while having fresh bodies and attitudes,” Carrillo said.
Senior Gabi Tederman realizes that workouts are not the only thing changing but also the atmosphere as last year’s seniors move on and new freshmen step out onto the track.
“For me personally, I have an even bigger leadership role, so I need to set a good example for everyone on the team as well as holding myself and others accountable,” Tederman said.
Another senior who noticed the shift, Mckenna Jones, said that one major change is the addition of almost 20 freshmen.
“The upperclassmen are going to have to step up a lot more this year and help the freshmen improve both physically and mentally,” Jones said.
Although their numbers may look different, the team’s chemistry continues to stay focused and mostly positive.
“Our team is independent by event, but when it comes to the team, we always cheer each other on and encourage and push one another,” junior Molly Besch said.
Even though it is still early in the season, Tederman and Jones agree on the fact that the team is supportive, ready to work hard, open to feedback and focused on the same end goal: winning state.
“The team goals are to take more medals home than last year, to win all three relays at state, place more individuals, place Yutan in the top five teams at state and go undefeated,” Carrillo said. “There is no hoping we win. Hoping is like wishing. Wishing is a waste of time. We will make it happen. We will go undefeated.”
As Tederman, Jones and Besch are just three of nine returning state qualifiers, they feel good about the team’s ability to have a successful season and stay persistent in their training.
“If everyone puts in one hundred percent effort into reps, practices, meets and listens to the coaches, I believe that we can win conference and districts and come out on top,” Jones said.
This work, however, also happens during the time off the track.
“I’m obviously going to show up and work hard at practice, but what I do outside of practice to recover is equally important to see progress,” Tederman said. “I need to stay on top of getting good rest, fueling my body with the right foods, staying patient and trusting the process.”
Although the team has their eyes on the prize, they also intend to have an enjoyable, memory filled season.
“Track is my sport, but I have so much fun doing it with this team,” Besch said.
Carrillo also enjoys a healthy balance of training and still having those fun moments and memories with the team along the way.
“I’m glad the girls are determined and hungry to win, but I’m also happy and proud that I get to train this wacky, funny crew,” Carrillo said.
