By Spencer Bodow

In the sport of track and field, there are not a lot of tangibles. There are the starting blocks, the bars for high jumps and pole vaults, the javelin, the shot put, and the discus, but that’s about it. The sport requires athletes to use a bit of their imagination. They have to imagine themselves using the proper technique to run, jump, or throw to the best of their abilities. Then, they have to execute it in competition.

In competition, however, it is all about times and scores. Even if the athletes are competing to the best of their abilities, that doesn’t mean they get to win. Someone would have to have something that nobody else in the competition has. Whether that’s talent, genetics, or work ethic, it means something more when an athlete wins.

So when three seniors took home first place at a meet this Saturday, it showed they had that extra factor. Louis Ternyik showed out in the 110-meter hurdles, setting a personal record for himself. Allison Youngs did her thing in the high jump, clearing a 5-foot bar for the first time this season. She said afterwards, “I was just trying to go out there and show what I can do.” Kylie Klassen rounded it out by putting up a personal record in the 800-meter race. The three have shown leadership through their example by performing at their very best.

These scores also mean more because they should be enough to qualify them for state. Qualifying for state is a big deal. It means you are the best of the very best and you get to compete against others like you. Every athlete wants to break their personal record, but if their record would be enough to qualify for state, that goal becomes more important.

Hopefully there are a few more scores that will put athletes into state. It is not set at the moment, but there are a few more athletes that are in a position to qualify. Sophomore Hannah Chadwick’s time for the hurdles has put her in a great position, as well as Freshman Dayanara Gamez’s shot put score. There may even be a girls relay team that will qualify for the 4×800 relay if their time is not beaten.

The athletes will have one final chance to qualify for state. After that, those who qualified will have a week before the state track meet on May 14. Good luck to all athletes and hopefully we see you at state.