For senior Tito Ford, missing the State qualifier last year by a mere .06 seconds was a crushing blow. Ford, along with many others, is at the start of their final season on the track. Although the season only began last week, the team has been preparing since November. With open gyms for sprinters, long-distance runs, and lift sessions with the throwing team, the boys are optimistic about the season and believe multiple events have a good chance of making State.

These high hopes come with years of nightmarish events occurring in the boy’s hopes to make it to the state meet. Last year, the 4×1 team missed State by only .06 seconds. Unfortunately, this was not the only near miss for the scouts. Senior Captain Tyler Bernstein is optimistic about the team this year, specifically the 4×4 squad.

“Last year, we had to go to our third alternate for sectionals due to injuries. Hopefully, George Thomas stays healthy this season so we can finally end up in Bloomington at the end of the year,” Bernstein said.

Despite the sprinters’ heartbreak last season, Villanova commit and captain Nicholas Nassar had a successful Sectionals meet. Nassar, along with his fellow captain and senior Timotei Dan, qualified for State for discus, while Dan also qualified for shot put. Although the throwing team was triumphant at Sectionals, Nassar remains positive about this season.

 “Our team has a lot to prove this year. I expect many records to be broken and many personal records to be achieved. You should expect a lot of the guys to be going to State this season,” Nassar said. 

While senior Bronson Kuever is optimistic about his chances on the track, he believes that the team’s biggest strengths are off the track. “We have a close, tight-knit group of guys.” Regarding his past with the team, starting as a junior, Kuever said, “I think over the last couple of years, team chemistry has improved quite a lot, and I feel as if we are more of a family now than we have been for the past few years.”

With determined leadership, a strong culture, and months of preparation behind them, the Boys’ Varsity Track and Field team is ready to flourish this season. While challenges remain, the team’s determination and focus suggest they can overcome them. As the season begins, the question is not if the team can succeed, but rather how far the team will go.