April showers bring May flowers… and February brings spring sports! Among the many sports ready for a fresh start with the new year, the boys track and field team is getting ready to show some of its best colors. With observations from last season, the team is looking forward to a new track, new goals, and new results.
“I think definitely [want to get] top two, top three in terms of districts and conferences… the boys’ [goal] last season was to get more than just the relays qualified for States… our goal moving forward [is] to get more individuals [qualified],” said Jeffrey Buck, head coach of the Mason track and field team.
Besides the overall goals for the boys’ track and field team, there are several athletes who are especially hoping for a good season, and are ready to show what they can accomplish.
Senior Andrew Coulson will be showcasing his wide range of talents in his third year with Mason’s track and field team. An athlete of many abilities, Coulson has competed in all of the sprinting events and several field events, such as discus, long jump, high jump, and shot put. This season, he is planning on competing in the 100 meter dash, the 4 by 100 meter relay, the 4 by 400 meter relay, discus, and long jump.
“My goals are to make it to state’s in an individual event,” Coulson said.
Senior CT Dodge will be competing in the 300m hurdle race in his fifth year of track and field. This is his main event, though he has participated in others over the years, such as the 800m dash. He is very hopeful for the upcoming season, and looks forward to beating his goals.
“I would be super proud of myself if I can shave off those last two or three seconds in the 300 hurdles to get the State qualifying time… and have a great year with a great team,” Dodge said.
“CT will make a good jump. The last few years he’s really been growing into his event in the 300 hurdles, I think his strength from cross country this season into track will really help him,” Buck said.
This will only be senior Ryan Henderson’s second year on the track team, and yet great results are expected from him. Also a rookie star on the cross country team, Henderson has shown his talent for running fast and cutting huge amounts of time off his records. He competes in the mile, and the 800m dash, and is anticipating occasionally running in the two mile race.
“I want to try and cut 30 seconds off my mile time, which is very hard to do, so I’m training very hard to do that,” says Henderson. “In the 800, I just want to qualify for States in that.”
Senior Patrick Lin is a devoted thrower and has been on the track team for three years. He competes in discus and shot put, and is hoping to add the 100m dash to his list of events this year. He has high hopes for this season, as his last in high school.
“Hopefully, I’ll make it to States; it’s been my goal since sophomore year,” Lin said. “I’ve been really close…but this year I’m definitely better.”
