For some people, indoor track is just any other sport. But not for some students at Powell High School. It takes dedication and hard work to do what they do, and it all starts with coming to practice with a positive attitude.
This year, the team had a positive run during all of their meets. Some even broke personal records.
“I broke my triple jump record every meet other than for state, and I ended with a 36.9’,” junior Paige Sanders said. “I broke the long jump record twice and ended with a 16.5’.”
The boys also had records broken during some of their events.
“Our four-by-four race went really well,” junior Lincoln Crawford said. “We placed third and broke the school record, but some of our players got hurt. But we still had a good time and made good memories.”
While some players were out there having a good time, others faced different adversities.
“I ran the two hundred, and I broke the school record and qualified for finals,” junior Tanner Seifert said. “But as I was running to hand off the baton, I started to veer off to the side, and I rolled my ankle. So I wasn’t able to compete in the finals, but we did end up breaking other records.”
Some of the runners weren’t expecting the outcomes that they got.
“The race that I ran in went well in the first four laps I ran, and I passed one guy,” senior Korbyn Warren said. “But as I was running up to finish the race, this one guy ended up beating me just barely. But I ended up breaking the record, so that was good.”
While some athletes don’t see track as something very important, junior Noelle Leigthon views it as an opportunity to pursue worthwhile goals.
“My experience in indoor track was something so special to me,” junior Noelle Leighton said. “It was my second year competing in shot put, and it’s been my best track season so far, between indoor and outdoor. I have accomplished a huge goal, and I am excited for future seasons.”
While the very first event of the season can be a little nerve-racking, it helps to keep a positive mindset.
“The first meet of the season went really good, and it’s always fun traveling with the team,” junior Rowan Borcher said. “My nerves get pretty bad, and this meet was no exception. I set a good mark for myself at the start of the season and was able to continue working to get better as the season progressed.”
Sports are great for meeting new people and making new friends, according to Leighton.
“My experience with my throwers team is something I never thought would be so special to me,” Leighton said. “My teammates helped me through so much, and I had a blast every day.”
This year was the first year that the girls had won state overall, with runner Karee Cooley breaking her sister, Kinley Cooley’s 3200-meter record with a time of 11:43.43. Not only did Paige Sanders set the triple jump record multiple times, but she also broke her own long jump record with a leap of 16 feet, 5 1/4 inches.
“Our girls indoor track and field team made program history at the 2026 state track meet,” assistant track coach Tracy McArthur said. “It is only our fourth year as a program; our first year was 2023, so we are extremely proud of all the hard work these athletes have put into our program.”
Indoor track is more than a weather-proof sport; it is a lifestyle. And even though it takes place in a smaller area, it still challenges the athletes and helps them improve, both physically and mentally.
