Track and Field

I'd been waiting to post about track since the season isn't quite over, but I had a request from a Grandma, and you'd better believe I'm going to write about what my readers want. (All 4 of them.)

Track started in February. I know kids join for many reasons. Some to exercise, some to compete, some to socialize, and some to get out of class early on Thursday track meets. June decided she wanted to do track. I wanted her to try it as well. You never know what you will like. 

She really enjoys the running and exercising. She is pretty fit already with her long lean body, but track has been bringing out extra muscle and potential. 

Neither of us were nervous at her first track meet. We didn't know what to expect. Here she is with some friends before they got started.

Hannah, June, Holly, Christina

They have all the kids do sprints to find the fastest for events like the 100 meter dash and the 400. June usually finished fourth, just shy of being picked for the events. She didn't mind though because she wanted to focus on distance.

They also were tested on their mile time to see if they should run that. June made it in, so she was doing the mile and the 800. (I believe every girl runs the 800 unless they are a sprinter.)

I went down the track before the mile started. June likes to be right up there in front. Can you see her glasses? Also, she is one of the few wearing pants. We somehow lost her P.E. shorts and the new ones we ordered through track hadn't arrived. 

She did awesome. I was super surprised. She came in third. Here she is coming down the home stretch. (I was joking with the other moms, Those pants are probably slowing her down. Wait 'til she has shorts.)

June was proud of herself as well. She took off over a minute on her mile time. (Competition really brings out the runner in her.) She said the next day the coach learned her name. There are so many girls on the team that the coach doesn't always remember everyone's name unless they stand out. Coming in third in the mile put June on the map. 

She also ran the 800 and came in 6th.

The next track meet, both of us were more nervous. Now we knew June had potential to place. She still likes to be in front. And look...shorts. (Still not the ones we bought through the school. Those hadn't come. We just found the others.)

Looking good June. She came in 3rd again. And in the 800, she took 3rd as well. It was really fun to watch her. She ran a conservative first lap, and then passed five people in the second lap to place. I was going crazy in the stands.

Here she is with some friends after.

Abby, June, Hannah

There is a girl in June's grade who is ridiculous fast. Her name is Katie. If she runs the mile, she wins. If she runs the 800, she wins. But she picks and chooses her events, because she is fast everywhere, so they also have her run the 400 and the 200. They use her strategically, as they should.

So, for the third track meet, the coach told June that the opposing team didn't have any fast milers. They were going to use Katie elsewhere and that meant June should win. No pressure right?

She now has her jersey and a some fast shoes to fill. Good luck June! (Right up there in front again.)

It was true that the other team didn't have any fast milers, but a friend of June's (who had not run previously) stayed on her heels the whole time. This is probably lap 3. June with Marinn close behind. (Do you remember Marinn from the Crack Off?) 

I videoed the finish. I apologize for the loud yells. They are far back coming around the bend when it starts. They are lapping all the girls in front of them.

June got her first place finish. The coolest part is that she keeps beating her time by a second or two. That means more to me, because I know if Katie had run, she would have won, but June still got a Personal Record.

She is really doing amazing. I think that race, she finished in 6:24. I never ran a mile that fast in high school. I think I got under 7 minutes once. 

I was not able to be there for the mile at her last track meet. They changed the day because of inclement weather, and I had well checkups for some of the kids. But Tyler was able to go and he kept me apprised of her progress. She came in second with another PR. (6:21) And I believe she got 3rd again in the 800.

Track is officially over now, but Alpine Days are coming up, where they have the best runners compete. I believe you have to place three times in your event to qualify. June made it in easily for the mile. She will be running it with Katie and Christina. Christina is a good friend and I'm glad she made it in, because only those doing Alpine Days will practice for the next week and a half. 

I actually don't anticipate June will place during Alpine Days. There are some really fast runners out there, including Katie. But I think it is fantastic that she made it to Alpine Days and I think the competition can certainly spur her to a new PR. 

Most importantly, June has learned that she likes to run. It is a great sport that will keep her active and fit. I think that is the best prize of all. I'm so proud of all her accomplishments.