To an outsider, track and field might look like nothing more than endless laps around a dirt oval and jumping with a stick, but the middle schoolers wrapping up their season this week know it is much more than just running and jumping.
Why would anyone want to join track and field? All that happens is running. Well for the middle schoolers in track it is more than just running. Anna Gore, when asked why she joined track states “I wanted to try something new and try to figure out what I like doing”. Beyond the physical challenge, many students share about a unique team bond that most people don’t expect from an “individual” sport. When Grace Otterness is asked “Who is your biggest role model on the team?” she shares “Monette, because she’s always pushing me to do my best, and she’s always determined”.
Track and Field is not an easy sport to do mentally and physically. Logan Thiel says “The best part of practice is field events because we go to do what we want. The hardest part in track is ladders because they make you run a mile or more”. The balance between the tough conditioning and the fun of field events is precisely what builds the grit middle schoolers need to succeed. The hard days of conditioning pay off when reflecting at the season stats of these middle schoolers with many great successes.
One of the great accomplishments of the season according to Nora Mies was “making a personal best of 7 ‘6 which I made at the Cannon Falls meet”. For athletes like Nora, these achievements represent more than just numbers, they are the rewarding result of stepping out of their comfort zones to discover exactly what they are capable of. Some amazing stats are Lola Winchell’s 1st place in the 400 meters at Medford’s junior high meet with a time of 1:10:52. Another great accomplishment of the season is Louie Otto’s many first places in pole vault. His PB is 9’6 which is great for a middle school male and shows how much conditioning matters.
For eighth graders, the end of the season marks a major transition. They aren’t just preparing for another year, they are preparing for a faster, more competitive environment. Middle school track is often about exploration. Trying the long jump one day and the 400 meter the next. High school requires knowing what one is the best and worst at. In high school, the competition is harder, so coaches place athletes where they can most effectively contribute to the team score or where they think they will place best.
Now that they know what they are capable of, what’s next? Whether these athletes continue to the high school podium or move on to different passions, the lessons learned in track and field remain. They leave the season with more than just improved skills; they carry with them the discipline, the courage to try something new, and the understanding that success is often a team effort, even in an individual lane. For the middle schoolers of Cannon Falls, the finish line is really just a new starting block.
