With the school year approaching the end, many of Park’s athletic teams wrap up their seasons. Park track and field wrapped up their final day of sections at Cooper High School on May 29. Many athletes broke school records and put their all into this meet. Park also has a lot of athletes that compete in very different events such as; hurdles, sprints, long jump and relays.
According to hurdles coach Jill Merkle, this specific meet meant a lot to all of Park’s athletes. During the weeks before sections, the coaches made sure their athletes were mentally prepared.
“Throughout the entire season, we have been working specifically for this meet, thinking about getting stronger, faster and then also how we level out the last couple weeks so we don’t burn out, knowing that we’re in a really hard section. It’s a very (important) type of mental preparation, making ourselves mentally tough,” Merkle said.
Senior captain Meaghan Knight said to prepare for meets, she keeps the same routine. She said she keeps in mind how she can support the team so everyone can do their best.
“To prepare (for meets) I usually like to really sit down and stretch,thinking while I stretch about how I want the meet to go, not only as an individual but as a team. So what that looks like for me is, ‘how can I show up for my teammates?’ ‘How can I make a positive impact on my teammates so they can succeed?’,” Knight said. “Then, for my races, I think about little things and technique. If it comes down to jumps and how I want to run it, I would say my warm-ups are usually the same for all meets because I go out as hard as I can for all.”
According to senior Alan Gardner, he starts his preparation as soon as possible. He said it helps the mental aspect of competing at a large competition.
“From the second that I wake up in the morning, it’s best to get in that mindset and that mental space that today is a big day. Also, that there’s going to be a lot of competition and that it’s a place to compete,” Gardner said.
Knight said that focusing on the race itself and not the time is one way she’ll make sure she doesn’t have any regrets. She said having fun and being around her community will also help her in her races.
“(To feel proud about sections I’m) not (going to be) looking at my time too much and (instead) focusing on how I’m feeling during the race. Ensuring that I’m having a good race, especially because this is my senior year, so I want to remember the feeling of the race rather than the times itself,” Knight said. “So by just having fun, having people around me that I care about, that care about me and can cheer me on, will make an impactful race.”
Gardner said by doing the best he can out on the field, he’ll feel better about sections and how he did. He said knowing that he doesn’t have to prove anything helps as well.
“To feel proud after sections (I will) go out and run my best. And also know that at the end (of sections) that I ran as hard as I could and there was nothing left that I had to prove to anyone,” Gardner said.
According to Merkle by knowing the athletes and their different needs it prevents the athletes from feeling overwhelmed or burned out. She said with a small team, it’s easier to know all of the athletes and how to support them.
“Knowing where athletes are at, everyone has different needs and so knowing your athletes and being able to coach them in whatever way is most supportive and helpful for them,” Merkle said. “Something that’s really cool about this program is it’s a small program, so we are actually able to know and build relationships with all of our athletes.”
According to Knight, a goal she had going into sections was to make state for the 100 hurdles. She said even though she couldn’t reach her goal, there are still events she’s looking forward to.
“I want to make state. I made state (for the) 100 hurdles last year and coming in, I wanted to make state (for the) 100 hurdles (again) and I failed to do that, but I still have 300 hurdles, which I’m in finals for. So either I run the auto qualifier of under 46:08 or I get top two to qualify. I’m really looking forward to that,” Knight said.
Gardner said a goal of his was to do the best he could. He said since it’s his last meet, he wanted to put everything into it.
“A personal goal that I had for sections was to go out and do the absolute best that I could and most of all, since it’s my last meet, leave nothing left. I wanted to put anything I had left out on the track,” Gardner said.
Merkle said a goal that she is bringing with her into the next season is to encourage more people to join track. She said getting athletes to train more on their own for a successful season next year is another goal.
“(A goal I have is to) actively recruit people to do track. Track is a really fun sport and actively getting people into shape and getting people prepared for the track season,” Merkle said. “Encouraging athletes to work on their own so that we can go off the front end next season.”
Park’s state qualfiers will race in the state prelims on June 16, at St. Micheal-Albertville Track.
