On Feb. 25, the Aragon track and field kicked off their preseason with an at-home scrimmage against Woodside. While the scrimmage did not have an official winner, the Dons dominated the meet, with all four divisions winning a majority of their events.
While the scrimmage does not affect the team’s league standings, it served as a warmup for the upcoming season and gave athletes, particularly those new to the sport, experience ahead of the first league meet. Head Coach Greg Alvarado says that the practice meet was specifically designed to help underclassmen with limited track experience.
“I wanted to let them know how to get ready for their races,” Alvarado said. “I want them to know how to use the blocks, time management and how to warm up and warm down because those things are just as important as the actual race.”
Despite Tuesday being many athletes’ first meet, Alvarado says that he was pleasantly surprised by the team’s good marks, specifically in pole vault, long distance and long jump, in which Aragon came in first in every division.
“I felt really good about the jump I got at the meet because I haven’t jumped since middle school and it came back really quickly,” said Madison Britt, a junior who took first place in the girls varsity long jump with a jump of 16 feet and 3.75 inches.
Additionally, the scrimmage showcased a handful of the team’s standout athletes, such as varsity junior Victoria Chen and sophomore Mina Hwang. Both took first place in the 4×400 meter, with Chen winning the 400 meter and triple jump, and Hwang claiming first in the 100 meter and 200 meter.
Chen credited the 4×400 team’s success to their teamwork and coordination.
“Our girls relay team had really great handoffs during our race,” Chen said. “So it’s really nice to see all our hard work in practice pay off and help us get a win.”
We’re really lucky that we have a few runners who can really carry an event and pull the whole team along in the meet.
Other athletes, such as junior Meilin Rife and senior Miles Rokala, also made an impression on the track. Rife set two personal records while taking first in the varsity 100 meter and high jump, while Rokala won both the varsity 1600 meter and 4×400 meter.
“A lot of the Woodside guys were coming off of injuries so I was kind of out on my own for the mile,” Rokala said. “Overall I felt pretty good but I’m mostly looking forward to the San Mateo meet because we’re hoping to get some PRs.”
The Dons also found success beyond the track, with the girls sweeping the field events and the boys taking first in the long jump and pole vault.
While the team had lots of success at the practice meet, Alvarado noted the absence of several key runners who typically contribute significantly to the team’s overall meet scores. This included many athletes who just finished their winter sports season and started their track season later than usual.
“We didn’t have any runners from the girls soccer team,” Alvarado said. “Which was definitely unfortunate because a lot of them are really fast sprinters.”
Other runners were forced to sit out due to early-season injuries, such as junior Charles Harger and sophomore Kurt Nguyen, who both sustained hamstring injuries.
“Our first league meet is next week against San Mateo,” Alvarado said. “But without Charlie and Kurt who are our fastest sprinters, things are going to look a little iffy.”
Rokala agreed that the loss of key athletes can greatly change the outcome of a meet.
“We’re really lucky that we have a few runners who can really carry an event and pull the whole team along in the meet,” Rokala said. “So hopefully everyone can get healthy as soon as possible so that we can get the best results possible.”
With a full season ahead, Coach Alvarado is prioritizing the fitness of his athletes, as well as their commitment.
“They need to understand, especially the younger kids, the seriousness of the competition,” Alvarado said. “This is not a club and I expect each and every one of them to work hard.”
After several weeks of practice and a scrimmage under their belt, the Dons continue to grow more and more prepared for the season. They will have the chance to showcase their progress on March 15 in the St. Francis Invitational at St. Francis High School.
