Launching off the ground. Soaring through the air. Clearing the bar. Sophomore Tyson Turner has made his mark as part of the school’s track and field team with his abilities in the high jump event and has shown his commitment to becoming the best athlete he can be. 

With UIL abruptly cancelling all sporting events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many athletes had to say goodbye to the season they thought they would have. For some students, it was their final year of high school, for others they were just getting a taste of what a varsity sport was like, and though sophomore Sailor Todaro still has two years of eligibility to compete, she was leading the pole vaulting team and was prepared to advance through the post season.

The discus weighs heavily in junior Justin Sheridan’s hand as he prepares to launch it across the field. He begins his spin and then releases as his eyes focus on where the discus will land. At the district meet, Justin threw 137’1” to finish in 3rd place and threw 148’5” at area to place second and advance to region.

The runners get set in the blocks and await the sound of the starter’s pistol. BANG. Athletes explode off the line as they look toward the finish. Seniors Miranda Golden and Charnell Gibson advanced to area to help the team win the area championship. While Gibson focuses on the shot put event, Miranda participates in the 4x4, 300 m hurdles, high jump, and occasionally the relays, but out of all of these, the hurdles is her favorite event.

Everyone who has played in some kind of sport has set goals for themselves; whether it’s physical, mental, or both. Many times, these goals can take months, even years, to reach. For one junior, Blaine...

His mind is clear. His vision zeroes in on the target. There is no sound. The only thing he is aware of is the object in front of him: the bar. His task, get over the bar. Junior pole vaulter Campbell Webb experiences this at each track meet.

Successful teams are created whenever the members stop relying on the talent of themselves and begin working together. Each individual athlete may be good, but when they’re put together they’re great. Seniors Makayla Howard and Quinteria Johnson have found this to be true in track as they run on the relay team.

Up stairs. Down stairs. Wind sprints. Exhausting work for any athlete, but an average day for senior Chassidy Rusk. Though she doesn’t run in any track events, she is a part of the shot put team and it’s much more than hurling an 8.8 lb. steel ball down the field.

Girls' Track: Two relays qualified for Area in 1st place (4 x 100, 4 x 200) Rayla Hawkins, Quinteria Johnson, Miranda Golden and Jamie Kennedy Alt. Ty'esha Foley The following students also qualified...

As she sets her feet firmly against the blocks, the starter calls the runners to the ready. The familiar chant of “I can do this” echoes in her ears as the starter calls set and points the gun upward. Then BANG, junior Jamie Kennedy flies off of the blocks running the 200 meter dash.

The baton of leadership is passed down unto the next generation of the track team. The veterans accept it, with intentions of endorsing what is expected of members and serve as role models. The veterans encourage the rest to step up to replace them and continue the legacy. As the baton progresses into the hands of the new members, revitalized potential emerges to push the team to succeed. The track team exemplifies leadership for new members through veterans and successes of younger members as motivation to the whole team to push themselves and step into the shoes of the adept members, continuing the prophecy of hard work.

The girls' track team finished 4th overall and several students qualified for area. 1st place: In the 4 x 100 (Kaitlyn Harris, Chahnyce Foster, Quinteria Johnson, Jamie Kennedy) - 47.5* 1st place: In...