Every year between February and March, winter sports end and spring sports, like track and field, begin their seasons. After months of indoor practice and meets, spring track and field is the beginning of the outdoor season for DeMatha track and field athletes.
The beginning of the season is hectic and takes a massive amount of preparation. Sophomore hurdler Kendall Gratton said it takes “long training days often consisting of difficult work outs” and that everyone feels intense “anticipation” for the upcoming season.
The difference between indoor and outdoor track is significant. Indoor track has much more consistent conditions. Racing surfaces will never be wet and athletes will not have to race in the rain or in super cold or unbearably hot weather.
Indoor track runner Julian Loggins mentioned how outdoor track takes much more stamina and conditioning than indoor track and field. Failing to prepare yourself could lead to injury when practicing or having a meet in intense heat.
Another difference between seasons is the racing surfaces, which are always level in outdoor track. “Indoor tracks have banked turns which make it easier to run faster than outdoor tracks,” Loggins points out. A banked turn allows for more speed to be carried through a turn than a flat turn.
In the upcoming weeks as the team prepares for their first meet, they will put in hours of grueling work as they prepare to dominate the competition, grow, and represent DeMatha.