During the day of Jan. 19 athletes from across the district came to compete at the district tournament in Maryland at Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex, hoping to beat their previous times and run against their opponents. 

Sprinters, Mid-distance, and long distance runners ran and competed on different days as the district meet was split into two days so that athletes doing multiple distances and events could be able to participate in both.

“They mix up the distance and the short distance, they kind of alternate throughout the day,” junior and varsity track athlete Sachi Deiker said. 

The preparation that this district competition took for McLean athletes was not simply a week a two, but the entire season as first the athletes on the McLean track team rigorously competed against each other in order to be chosen to compete at districts.

“So the top three per event go to the districts,” Dieker said.

Specifically for the events that individual athletes run, coaches give workouts and exercises to perform depending on the event that their athletes are going to run because the nature of the distance runners varies greatly from that of the mid-distance runners and sprinters.

“During the 55 meters basically the beginning’s the most crucial part. So how you start the race determines how well you are going to do in the race. So we specifically for the event tomorrow, we practice the box,” Deiker said.

The nature of track is such that it not only requires a lot of physical preparation through practices after school, but also mental preparation to compete at such a high level. 

“I think the strategy for sprinting is just keeping in mind the small things like getting out of blocks and stuff like that, but just mentally preparing yourself to just get out there and do it, I think is the most important thing. 

Along with physical and mental preparation, maintaining a balanced diet is also crucial to all successful athletes, especially athletes that participate in track and field. 

“I honestly think nutrition is a really, really big factor. You need to eat well, and you need to drink water all day, or else you just don’t get the energy that you should be getting,”Deiker said.

With the intensive workouts that athletes must endure with districts, many struggle to balance school and other extracurricular activities with track practices as athletes prepare for districts especially for juniors and seniors that are finishing high school with challenging themselves with difficult classes. 

“Practice is Monday to Friday from 3:15 to 5 and there is weight room which is until 5:30 on certain days. So it’s definitely a big commitment. And there’s several meets on Saturdays, Fridays, and Wednesdays,” Deiker said.