On March 16, the Logansport track and field teams ran past the South Bend Career Academy. This was Logansport’s first home meet of the season, marking it not only as an outdoor season opener for the team but also as a milestone to not only get better as individuals but also as a team.
Both track and field teams not only threw farther, jumped higher and ran faster as individuals, but also together as a team as one unit. This was even more exemplified through their cheering and encouraging their teammates, but it shows the true bond that a team should have. This bond carried the team to an overwhelming victory. The boys team won with a 104-26 victory, with the girls winning with 103- 21. Both of these were Logansport victories, but it showed that working as a team makes a world of difference.
These actions did not go unnoticed by the coaches, and these actions especially showed up in the last couple of races. Head Coach Brian Morrill explains this in further detail.
“Well, I think, especially it showed up on this last race,” Morrill said. “We had kids running all the way down the sideline here, cheering Yari in for the 3200. That’s a tough race, and she was being cheered on and then also the 4×4. We had some close races there, and they were; everybody was cheering for them on the sidelines, so I loved to see that.”
Not only did the team bond and grow closer together, but many runners also set new personal records and Morrill is pleased with the efforts of this season’s outdoor opener meet
“I think there was a lot of PRs today, and I think there’s going to be more to come during the season,” Morril said. “So it’s always a starting point, and we get better from here.”
Sophomore Esau Cortes notes that this first home meet prepares him and shows him where he is currently in terms of fitness.
“I feel like this home meet really sets like a mark to where I’m at, where I can compete at,” Cortes said. “And it’s something that I can keep working at to get improved.”
Cortes is a shot put and discus thrower, which requires him to be outside of the track for a major part of the meet. This first home meet, Cortes believes that the throwers bonded fairly well this meet.
“Okay, so today I feel like we managed to bond with the other team,” Cortes said. “We were there clapping, messing around, having a good time overall. So I feel like that really brought us together as a team.”
This bigger bond also causes the team to form smaller groups to get closer together. Senior Josh Buenaventura recognizes this and explains in further detail
“To be honest, it helps a little bit, but I just try to focus on myself and how I’m doing in my race,” Buenaventura said. ”Because not much people cheer on cause we are all scattered in our own little groups.”
And lastly, this first home meet not only lets athletes test their current fitness but it also tells them how much work needs to be done.
“Well, it’s a start, not the greatest, but a start and needs some work, but it will come in time,” Buenaventura said.
