The track and field team launched into their new season at their first meet at the College of Saint Mary on March 21.
Collectively, the athletes boasted seven podium finishes, including three third-place finishes, three second-place finishes and a first-place finish by sophomore Chase Grow in the boys’ 200-meter final with a time of 23.01 seconds.
“That [winning] was my goal coming into it because I knew it was possible to win,” Grow said. “I just had the thought of winning in my head, and I knew I was going to win.”
As the season kicks into full gear, the athletes and coaches are setting their sights on personal improvement and growth.
“I hope that our kids maximize their potential,” head boys coach Sean McLaughlin said. “We have a lot of really talented kids, and they’re working really hard to prove that.”
Echoing McLaughlin’s sentiments, the athletes are also excited about the opportunity to improve throughout the season.
“I am looking forward to learning new things and meeting new people,” freshman Vivian Williams said. “I hope that I can improve and make the varsity team one day.”
For the athletes, the pursuit of personal records is about seeing quantifiable results from their hard work and dedication. Sophomore Ike Schmeckpeper, who pole vaults, is looking to break records this season.
“The big goal this year is 17 feet,” he said. “As you go higher in personal best marks, getting a new PB is significantly harder, but if I get everything right in one jump, I think I can hit 17 feet. A cool add-on to getting 17 feet is that the state record is 16′ 7 1/4″, so I will get that as well.”
The dedication to personal improvement is evident not only in individual pursuits but also in the team’s growth as a whole. This season, the track and field team has significantly expanded, welcoming a fourth-grade level and many more students.
“We’re really excited to have more kids out this year,” head girls coach Dana Janssen said. “We went from 30 to 55 on the girls’ side, and on the boys’ side, we’re up to 90, so we have around 140 kids out for track and field.”
With the increased number of athletes, the team is setting its sights high for goals for this season.
“Across the board, we want to have more qualified players for the State track meet,” Janssen said. “We have three girls that are coming back that qualified last year, and we want to make that number a lot larger this year.”
The athletes are also looking forward to making a statement at the State meet this season on May 21-22.
“I made State last year, and I plan on making it again this year,” Schmeckpeper said. “With how stacked our team is this year, I also hope our team can win or get close to winning State.”
As the team aims for these ambitious targets, they are also faced with the reality that several senior athletes will be graduating, taking with them years of experience and memories.
“I just want to create new memories with all of my friends, especially the seniors because they’re leaving next year,” Grow said. “I just like creating these relationships with track and having fun with everybody every week.”
Additionally, the team will bid farewell to McLaughlin at the end of the season before he prepares to go to Papillion La-Vista High School.
“The thing I’m looking forward to the most is just enjoying the last three months I have here at Gretna East,” McLaughlin said. “I want to enjoy being with the kids on road trips or at practice and kind of getting to know them a little bit better before I leave at the end of the season.”
The team will return to Saint Mary’s tomorrow, March 28, for their second meet of the season against multiple schools.
“My biggest hopes are to see the most improvement from last year to this year on our kids’ times,” Janssen said. “It’s a lot to manage, but seeing how kids improve from one year to the next is always great to see.”