In the heart of winter, as cold air settles over the region, the FC Indoor Track team is heating up the competition. Inside the indoor arena, cheering fans fill the space as athletes push their limits, striving for victory with every race, setting new personal records, and proving their dedication to excellence, one stride at a time.
While others view indoor and outdoor track as similar, their contrasting elements keep athletes in shape and on their toes and prepare them for their upcoming meets.
“Indoor track is very different from outdoor track. In indoor, the track is smaller and raised off the ground to give runners an advantage. It’s also 200 meters, while an outdoor track has 400 meters,” said junior Sebastian Robertson.
As indoor and outdoor have differences, they give athletes an advantage to do their best during the meets.
“It’s very easy to see other teammates running through the meet, so it’s easier to cheer them on,” said senior Baylee Ehlers.
With indoor track season in full swing, athletes dedicate their time to intense training, focusing on running, practicing drills, and refining their skills to prepare for the upcoming competitions. Every training session is key to boosting strength and enhancing performance for the meets ahead.
“My goal is to work on my technical goals for the outdoor track. I have big goals this year and the only way to achieve them is to get the big ticket technique down,” said senior Brock Conrad.
Training and practice are essential to success in any competitive sport, and this is especially true when preparing for meets, building technique and strength, and improving their focus.
“Training, of course, is necessary, we practice and train Monday through Friday. We do weight training, core. All those things are going to be important to us excelling or doing well,” said coach Bennett.
As athletes train hard for future meets, pressure rises throughout the track. All eyes follow athletes as they make their way to their event. Friends, family, and other teammates keep the stamina up as the crowd roars with excitement.
“Most of our indoor meets are held in facilities, usually college facilities. Scouting can also play a big part in some of these events because it can open up lots of opportunities,” said senior Precious Flahn.
Although the pressure mounts at the meet, athletes utilize various methods to pause and manage the stress.
“I try to stay as calm as possible. A lot of people want to be by themselves but end up psyching themselves out. If it works for you then great, but for me, I get a little warm up in, like drill work, then I go talk to the other throwers to ease my nerves,” said Conrad.
The athletes also try to focus on other things to keep their minds straight. Flahn has her own way of preparingto prepare her mind and body for a meet.
“Physically, I focus on getting enough food, water, and sleep. Mentally, I like words of affirmation to prepare myself for meets,” said Flahn.
As athletes eagerly wait for the weather to warm up and the outdoor season to begin, they know that the start of their next challenge is just a few months away. Patiently waiting for the frost to thaw, they remain focused, staying on their feet and pushing themselves in training.
“Whether you’re training for indoor or outdoor track, you’re still putting yourself in a new environment for the team, also meeting new freshmen and teammates you get to bond with before the season starts,” said sophomore Hudson Holt.
While incoming freshmen make their way onto the team, they go above and beyond to celebrate all of their victories together, as a team, bonding and engaging in activities.
“We do a lot of activities together to make sure everyone is included, like yoga, Top Golf, and team parties to bond with the team,” said Holt.
As the team works together, they set goals for the season, pushing their way to success, one meet at a time.
“For the indoor season, we hope to have 5 top teams in relays, and then we want to have twenty top teams for the other two relays, so there arethere’s four relays and we want to qualify all four,” said Bennett.