Track works to improve for conference meet

Team shows strength in distance and hurdles

Esther Gendler

As junior girls’ track captain Katie Fredrickson reflects on the track season, she says the team has succeeded in its meets so far.

“The season has been going really well so far, we’ve been doing well in our meets and we are improving a lot,” Fredrickson said.

Head coach Christine Tvrdik said the team is strong in distance and hurdles this year, and many other areas show improvement.

“What’s been actually going pretty well, we have a pretty strong distance crew. They’ve been pretty strong for us and actually our hurdlers are doing really well this season,” Tvrdik said. “We’re starting to develop, improve in our jumps and also our throws have been pretty strong this year so I’d say those are kind of our three strongest areas.”

Tvrdik said there are areas the team is looking to improve on as the season progresses.

“A big focus is our sprint relays, we’re trying to find the kids who are going to be the best fit for that relay and be the most competitive so right now that’s a big focus, and then also making sure that we are building some depth with the jumps I would say,” Tvrdik said.

Freshman Anna Long said practices are used to focus on both team and individual events.

“We do warm-ups all together so that’s really fun and then we kind of split up into separate groups like sprints goes in one place and distance goes in another and then I throw so we go to the rings which are in a completely different place.”

Tvrdik said the team will focus practice on certain events in order to meet their goals.

“I think this year looking forward to conference is always a goal as a team and just improving from where we were last year and through that a big focus is our sprint relays, we’re trying to find the kids who are going to be the best fit for that relay and be the most competitive, and then also making sure that we are building some depth with the jumps,” Tvrdik said.

Tvrdik said although facing injuries, she feels confident in the team.

“I feel pretty good, I think we’re battling some injuries right now but it will hopefully all come together. We’re obviously like working for that conference meet in about a month so we’re just trying to get everybody healthy and ready to compete for that.”

The team’s next meet takes place at 3:30 p.m. May 2 at Benilde-St. Margaret’s. The conference meet takes place at 3 p.m. May 17 at Chanhassen High School.