The track distance team has decided to start winter training on Mondays and Wednesdays after school, on the track, at 2:45 to stay in shape for the track season. They also want to hopefully compete in some indoor track meets during the off-season.
Joachim Jakuc decided to start an organized practice between varsity and sub-varsity of the cross-country team who are going to continue running distance in track.
Jakuc and some other athletes hope to compete in three indoor track meets in the off season. These events consist of the 800, 1600, 3k, and in certain events they include the 4×800. “The first of 3 meets is in Spokane on December 16. There is another meet there on January 20-21, with all those events plus a 4×800 relay. Finally, the last meet is at UW at the Seattle campus, on February 10-11,” Jakuc said.
Students taking part in the winter practices include Joachim Jakuc, Allison Skoog, Andrew Leffingwell, Blake Roberts, Thomas Morrison, Jack Fahey, Jack Swafford, Kaitlyn Fisher, Maddy Figler, Mason Strasser, Charlie Roberts, and Justin Lehtinen.
As well as those races some students have decided to keep up racing during the off-season whether it’s short distances like the 800 or some local 5k’s that they have registered to b apart of.
Allison Skoog is racing at the Mount Si 5k. “I was resting for two weeks but then I realized that I wanted to run in this race because my sister’s roommate’s siblings are running it, so I wanted to run it too. It’s really hilly so during winter training I have to work on hills for this next meet coming up.” Skoog said.
Swafford is racing at the turkey trot in Mukilteo hosted by Kamiak high school on Thanksgiving. “I’ve been training really hard for this 5k. It’s the Mukilteo turkey trot and it’s a family tradition, my mom, my sister, and I do every year. I really want to win a pie this year because they give pies to the number one winner in every age group, and I think I have a good shot with my winter training to get that done this year.” Swafford said.
Other student athletes just want to stay in shape for the track season and have something to do after school. Doing these practices will hopefully help a lot to create a break-out season for the distance track team.