As the indoor track season continues, several student-athletes are working hard to earn a place in the upcoming indoor state meet. According to Coach Jessica Crooks, the team began training earlier this winter and has already been competing at major indoor facilities across Ohio.
“We started training in November to December,” Crooks explained. Once competitions opened in December, January, and February, athletes traveled to several universities and facilities to compete in meets and improve their rankings.
Some of the locations where the team competed include SPIRE Institute, Kent State University, University of Akron, Youngstown State University, and Baldwin Wallace University. At each meet, athletes competed in their respective events while trying to earn a spot on the top 15 or top 16 list.
At the end of the indoor season, officials release a final list of athletes who qualify. However, since indoor track is not state-sanctioned in the same way as outdoor track, the selection process can work a little differently.
“When the final list comes out this weekend, we’ll know exactly who makes it,” Crooks said. Some athletes may also need to petition for a spot if rankings shift due to other competitors who attend meets more consistently.
If athletes qualify, they will compete at SPIRE next Saturday in their events. Indoor track is known for being highly competitive, and many athletes use the season to prepare for the outdoor track season in the spring.
Crooks emphasized that the students competing have put in a lot of effort throughout the season. She highlighted athletes such as Carter Howard and Emily Slusher, noting that they practice regularly and work hard to improve.
“These kids are really good, and they’re hard workers,” she said. “Emily Slusher is new to our team and has been practicing hard and doing well.”
In addition to strong performances at meets, some athletes have also broken records this season. Mrs. Crooks said she plans to share a list of those record-breaking performances along with the morning announcements.
With the final rankings expected soon, the team is hopeful that several athletes will qualify and represent their school at the upcoming indoor state competition.
