Long strides. High jumps. Tireless days. Atholton’s very own track athletes recently competed in their state competition.
This Memorial Day weekend, 18 Atholton track athletes, from all grades, competed in the MPSSAA, the Maryland Public School Secondary Schools Athletic Association, Track and Field State Championship. The championship was held at Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex in Landover, Maryland. Atholton is a part of Class 3A-East, along with many other Howard County high schools. Atholton runners competed in an array of events, including, long jump, discus, relays, shot put, high jump, and pole vault.
Prior to the meet, junior Olivia Seetoo, who will be high jumping at States said, “I am most excited about being able to watch different athletes from around the state compete so I can watch and learn from their technique.”
This will not be Seetoo’s first time in this experience. She qualified and competed last year for high jumping as well. Seetoo shared, “Last year was a stressful experience because it was a chaotic environment…since there were more schools and athletes there than other meets.” She continued, “I am hoping that this year will be better since I have qualified before and know what to expect.”
Similar to Seetoo, junior Tianna Wilson has also competed in states before. Wilson competed last year, and competed this year in two events, the 4×8 and the 800 meter. For the 800 meter, Wilson was most worried about running it alone, when compared to the 4×8, which is a relay. “In a relay, it’s team support but when you are by yourself competing against others it’s mentally different,” said Wilson.
Though Wilson has competed in states before, her grandparents haven’t seen her run in it yet. She said, “I’m really excited for my grandparents to watch me run because they are flying in from Nebraska.” Having supportive family members is a helpful addition during this stressful experience.
For senior Olivia Struble, this was her third time qualifying as a pole vaulter for states. She qualified for states her junior year for both indoor and outdoor track, in addition to this year. As states is a competition where track athletes from all around Maryland attend, Struble is excited to see her pole vault friends that live all around the state, who she has not been able to see in a while. Struble also shared her goal for this competition. “I hope I am able to get a new personal record and place in the top ten.”
Qualifying and then competing in states is an extraordinary accomplishment, that evidently comes with worry. Seetoo shared, “I am most concerned about injuries because I have been dealing with tight muscles from constantly jumping each day at practice.” She worries that this, “could prevent me from being able to perform to the best of my abilities at states.” Struble has a slightly different worry. She added, “I’m really nervous because last year I broke a pole at outdoor states and I really don’t want that to happen again.”
Wilson concluded with “I hope the experience goes really well and I’m not really worried what place I get. I’m just going to run as hard as I can and give it my all.”
At the event itself, senior Olivia Struble and Olivia Seetoo both finished in eighth place for their respective events. Junior Tianna Wilson and her relay finished thirteenth in their 4×8 relay. Wilson also finished ninth in her 800 meter run.
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