Barlow Sports are wrapping up, and the Barlow track and field season has come to an end. The team had a really successful season, with several athletes making it to state. With COVID protocols calming down, the team was able to have a full season, including invitationals, districts, and state. 

Grace Lam Tiang, a varsity thrower, expressed, “The reason I enjoy track is it makes you not only realize your own potential, but also to uplift other people, and you continue to grow.” Lam Tiang competed in shotput and javelin at state, and placed 5th for javelin. There is a really great team aspect to track and field. Not only do they practice and compete with their teammates, but they support each other, and watch each other’s events. Many athletes form strong bonds and love competing together. 

“My favorite memory is probably going on runs with Isabella Garcia, because she has been my running buddy this season, and we have a lot of fun at practice, and both of us have days where it’s not the number one place we want to be, in the pouring rain at track. But just being able to run with her and the whole team has been great,” Alyssa Stumbo, who competed in the 800 at state, explains. 

State pole vaulter Keeley Chard agrees. “I like the track because of the community, everyone is so encouraging of each other.” Although you compete for individual times and distances in track and field, it is still a very social sport with a lot of team bonding. 

This year, Barlow had the opportunity to have a full season, which included not only a full slate of inter-district meets, but also a number of large invites. The largest of these meets is of course the season-ending state meet. The state meet had been canceled the previous two years because of the pandemic. State was successful, with many athletes competing.

“State went well, there were some good things and some bad things, that’s kind of how state always goes, you hope every kid does their best, but that’s not always what happens, so you celebrate what’s good and work through the negative, the bad, and you hope the kids leave state excited for how they did whether it was their best meet of the year or the worst meet of the year,” head track coach Scott Jones commented. 

Jones has been the head track and field coach for 9 years at Barlow. He loves working and training with the athletes. This year’s state meet was held at the University of Oregon, at Hayward field. Hayward field is one of the best facilities you can compete at, it has a very large stadium as well as an impressive track. 

“Overall state was really fun and I can’t wait to see what I can do next year,” said Braydon Lee, who competed in the 800 at state. 

This was a great season for Barlow track and field overall. Many students beat their personal records throughout the season, and pushed themselves to improve and succeed. For some athletes, this was their first year in track, and others have been doing it for a long time. Everyone really worked hard and tried their best. 

There were several other athletes who also went to state who were not interviewed, including Micah Perry, who got first in 110 meter hurdles, Parker Waugh, who got second in the 800m race, Jacob Stump, Dakota Pillster, Boaz Amadio, and Braden Arn. 

Track and field had an amazing season, and we can’t wait to see what they do next year.