District News

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) -- For many athletes on Union’s track and field team, the sport is about more than times on a stopwatch. It’s about pushing limits, building confidence, and forming bonds that last beyond the track.

Union athletes join track and field for all kinds of reasons: competition, connection, and self-improvement. Some are drawn to the challenge, while others simply want to stay active or try something new.

“I’m doing it for fun,” said Kaeaira Jones.

For Len’Niya Brown, running has been part of her life for years. “I’ve been doing track since elementary school with GRPS,” she said. “I keep running because I like to be competitive. Plus, it’s fun. The people you get to meet, the chemistry, and the new friends are great.”

Others join the team to maintain their fitness or to step outside their comfort zone.

“I do it for exercise. Honestly, I’ve just always been running,” Ja’Laya Pendleton said.

Liliana Ovalle, on the other hand, is running for the first time. “I’ve never done sprinting, so I wanted to try it,” she shared.

Track can also help athletes prepare for other sports.

“I joined the track team because I want to gain more speed before football,” Avontae Mckenzie said.

“I want to stay active, not being lazy, and prepare for summer football workouts,” JaCarri Scroggins agreed.

For others, the appeal goes beyond training and competition. “New opportunities and meeting new people are the reason I joined,” Nasir Harbin said.

Despite their different motivations, all athletes quickly learn that success in track comes down to the same thing: consistent effort. Distance runners build endurance mile by mile while still sharpening their speed.

“For distance runners, we’ll go out for a longer run, sometimes up to seven miles,” explained Arie Prins. “Then we’ll come back and get some 400-meter sprints in to practice speed.”

Sprinters, on the other hand, focus on explosive power and quick bursts. “Our practices are sprint progressions, 100 meters up to 400 and then back down,” Lenora Hinchee said.

Uriah Jones described the variety of workouts sprinters go through in practice: “Run around the block, run 60s, do ladders, run mixed sprints. Then, stretch at the end. You’ve got to get your stretches in!”

Beyond building speed and endurance, track also challenges athletes mentally, testing their composure under pressure. Races often come down to confidence, focus, and the ability to manage nerves.

“I listen to music and control my breathing,” Samuel Gomez-Perez said when asked how he stays focused before competition.

Maintaining a positive mindset is something many athletes emphasize as well.

“There are always going to be people that are faster than you,” Brown said. “But as long as you stay positive you should be good. Never doubt yourself.”

For freshman Emi Crim, track provides a valuable mental outlet. “Track helps my mindset,” Crim said. “I can focus on something that means a lot to me, and then when I succeed, I feel really good about myself.”

As the new season begins, many other athletes also hope to improve their self-confidence by achieving personal goals. Jude Klooster hopes to break five minutes in the mile, while Josh Chapman is aiming to run the mile under 5:30. Prins is seeking a sub-10:00 two-mile and a 4:40 mile. Jones hopes to break the school record in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and long jump.

Still, some athletes are focused on steady improvement.

“I just came for speed,” Mckenzie said. Scroggins added, “I just want to grow overall.”

As Union’s athletes begin another season, their goals range from personal records to school records. But regardless of times or finishes, the team agrees on one thing: track and field is about pushing yourself to become better every day.

Perhaps Demetrius Munn summed up the Redhawk experience best.

“I just want to be the best that I can and have fun,” he said.