The Boys track and Field team is entering this season with both momentum and change. Last year, the team reached the state championship, an accomplishment that showed how strong the program had become. However, many of the seniors who helped lead that run have since graduated, leaving a new group of athletes ready to step into bigger roles.
Despite losing a large part of last year’s core, the team has not slowed down. With conditioning starting in the fall, they have been preparing since then, putting in months of offseason work before the official season even began. For Isaac Smith, the focus has been about more than just competing, it is about building a culture the team can be proud of.
“The main goals for the team this season is to develop an environment and culture that we as a team can be proud of and be able to practice and compete at the highest of our abilities,” Smith said.
Last season’s trip to state set a high standard for the program. With that experience, the team understands what it takes to compete at that level. At the same time, Smith said this year’s roster looks different and presents new opportunities for younger runners.
“This team is a decent amount different than last year, and we have plenty of opportunities for athletes to step up and take on bigger roles to help our team maximize its potential this season,” Smith said.
Because track and field includes many different events, the team depends on athletes contributing in a variety of ways. From sprinters and distance runners to relays and field events, each performance can impact the overall success of the team. Throughout practices and workouts, teammates push each other to improve while working toward shared goals.
Smith pointed out two athletes he believes could make a big impact this season. Senior Omar Elsayed and sophomore Drew Cole. Elsayed has earned a reputation for his discipline and work ethic, something teammates notice during both practice and competition.
“Omar is one of the hardest working and disciplined guys I know and he’s due for a hugely successful season on the track this spring,” Smith said.
Drew Cole is one of the younger athletes on the roster, but he has continued to develop since arriving at the school. According to Smith, his growth could make him an important part of the team’s success this season.
“Drew is an impressive athlete and has been developing well since he’s gotten to HSE and I think he can really grow into a high impact athlete for our team this season,” Smith said.
As the team looks ahead to its schedule, one competitor stands out. Nearby Fishers High School is expected to be one of the strongest teams in the conference, which has always been “the” rivalry that many athletes/students are excited about.
“The biggest competitor in our conference is most likely going to be the school a few miles down the road,” Smith said. “Fishers has a talented and well-rounded team, and it will be exciting to see how we compete against them this season.”
While competition is an important part of the sport, Smith said success cannot be said only by results. For him, the most important part of the season is the growth athletes experience both on and off the track.
“Success in my eyes for this season is simply being able to know that we tried our best to become our best selves and had a good and rewarding time doing it,” Smith said.
Smith believes track has always been about more than races, times or medals.
“To me track has always been more than just the competition itself,” Smith said. “It’s been about having the opportunity to grow, learn, adapt and achieve a higher level of myself on and off the track.”
After reaching state last year, expectations are high for the Boys Track and Field team. With months of preparation already behind them and new athletes stepping into key roles, the team hopes to continue building on its success while creating a season made by effort, improvement and pride in representing their school.
