5 girls advance to regional track meet

 

By Lauren Johnson/Editor

 

Although the crowd is going wild, nothing is heard.  All they hear is their breathing and their heartbeats.  The only thing going on in their minds is what’s ahead and what it’s going to take to win.

 

Five athletes obviously know what it takes to win as they advanced to the regional meet on April 25.

 

Coming back from an injury is difficult for any athlete and overwhelming for some, but for Katy Cranfill refused to let an injury stop her from going to regionals in not one but three events, the 800-meter dash, the 800-meter relay and the 200-meter dash, in which she placed fourth with a time of 26.04 seconds.

 

“It was hard coming back from injuring my hip last year, but I worked through it,” Cranfill said. “Trying to get better, I was averaging about 100 miles a week on a stationary bike when I couldn’t run, and now I just train and stretch non-stop.”

 

The varsity 800-meter relay team of Mandi Todaro, Katy Cranfill, Lindsey Allmon and Sam Temple placed second at the district meet, sending them on the trip to Humble, Texas for the regional meet. 

 

“I’m so happy to get another chance to go to regionals for the third time as a senior,” Temple said.  “It’s also a big accomplishment to get to go in the long jump as well.”

 

The relay team had a common goal for the regional meet.

 

“We just want to get our personal best,” Todaro said.  “Our region is super fast, so we are just going to worry about us.”

 

With near death track practices and all day track meets, these girls will do anything it takes to be the best.

 

“Our track practices are harder than anyone can imagine,” Temple said. “When I tell Coach A (Jason Atcheson) I feel like dying, he always tells me I’ll pass out first, which isn’t always funny at the time.”

 

Competing can either be the worst or the best part of a sport. For Raylan Witten, the competition is definitely her favorite part of pole vaulting, and it gave her the chance to win district and go to regionals as a sophomore.

 

“I love competing at the meets,” Witten said. “When I compete, all I think about.  is what I need to do to win.”

 

These lady athletes didn’t get to where they are on their own. They took advantage of  help and advice from coaches and other athletes.

 

“Coach A helps me the most physically with the hard practices and new techniques to use when I jump,” Temple said.  “But Coach (Thomas) Brothers is always there when I’m having trouble mentally with the sport.  He always knows just what to say.”

 

For two months, track dominated their time, but they don’t seem to mind.

 

“During track season, pole vaulting takes up all my time,” Whitten said.  “When I win, the dreadful practices, the injuries, the long track meets… none of that matters anymore.”