“We are using the virtue of Humility to prepare for the season,” Coach James Hawkins said. “It is not how good you are or how fast you are, it’s about being humble and building connections with the team.”
Coming off of a very strong season where they broke several school records, the winter track and field team is ready to run.
“We have changed the approach. We have some new kids, and it will take them a little more time to adjust to the pace of the season. However, our philosophy has remained the same. We must remember the virtues,” Coach Hawkins said.
The captains this year comprise Sixth Former Alex Dardarian for long distance, Fifth Former Ahijah Goins for middle distance, and Fourth Former Charlie Beifeld for sprint.
Dardarian explained one of the changes.
“The team is preparing for the season by working hard on the track and in the weight room,” Dardarian said. “We are spending much more time in the weight room, working out for an extra hour every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.”
“As a team, we have been preparing extremely well for this upcoming season. I’ve seen progress in every athlete, and we’re only about four to five weeks into the season,” added Goins.
A major change will make team members’ lives much easier this year. Four of the meets that have historically been held in New York are now moving to the new track at The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
Goins believes this change will have an effect on how the team runs.
“The new track at Penn will save the extreme tiredness of traveling to New York early in the morning and leaving late at night. The closer facility will help us to be at our best considering the fact that we will have more energy entering the meet,” Goins said.
The team has a few new members including, Third Former J.R. Hawkins, who is nationally ranked in the 100, 110, and 60-meter hurdles.
“He’s a phenomenal athlete,” Coach Hawkins said, “He’s competing with the seniors as a freshman.”
The core of the team remains the same.
“We have some great seniors. It’s bittersweet that it is their last winter track season. Once we go into the spring season, it will be their last season,” Coach Hawkins said. “Especially Alex Dardarian, he has been a captain for the last three years, spring and winter. He has been a rock for the team. On and off the track. He has led by example in the classroom as well as on the track.”
“We have some new faces that I see being great in the program. And the ones who are returning athletes look even better. “
Coach James Hawkins
Coach Hawkins then turned his praise to rapidly improving Sixth Former.
“Matt Yerger just had a great cross-country season,” Coach Hawkins said, “and he will have a great track season.”
Matthew Yerger broke 21 minutes this season and came close to breaking 20 in the 5K race.
There are high expectations for this team.
“We have a really really strong team. After last spring, breaking the 4×800 and 4×400 school records, doing great at PAISAA, and making it to the School Indoor Championships, I expect that we will do well,” Coach Hawkins said.
“I think the team will do great this year,” Goins said. “We have some new faces that I see being great in the program. And the ones who are returning athletes look even better. I have high expectations for how we will perform in meets this year.”
