Head coach Todd Hunter, who has been coaching for 10 years, is ecstatic for this season to start and ready to condition the team with intention, structure and focus.
The team has 21 new runners and 31 returning runners. Hunter believes this season has a good run ahead of it and wants to enable a supportive and disciplined environment for the team as a whole this year. The coaches create a very supporting environment by having a team theme of “improvement is our movement,” and having common goals for the team to share.
Hunter said when coaching, he strives to form a positive team environment and cohesiveness all together. “I view training as a system rather than just hard workouts. I value detail, performance improvement and preparing athletes to run faster and to be great human beings,” Hunter said.
Sophomore Mariluna Reyes McGovern, who was a state qualifier last year in sprinting, said she chose to start indoor track conditioning in September. “It’s the best way to prepare for the season, to prepare my body for the best,” McGovern said.
Sophomore June Yamamoto, who was one of the team’s top distance runner last year, said, “The track season is pretty short, time is limited, so it’s important that I condition before to prepare.”
The long-distance side of track is welcoming a new assistant coach Bridget McGill, who is currently a D1 runner at University of Nebraska Omaha.
McGovern says she’s excited to see what this season can bring for her, especially their 4×400 team with incoming new freshman joining the team. Yamamoto has a similar goal to the 4×800-meter relay team.
Freshman Violet Lightner is ready to learn from the upperclassman and their dedication for her first year here at Central. “I’m excited to be apart of the team and run with Centrals girls track for the first time,” Lightner said.
Hunter hopes their can be a smooth transition in adding many new runners to the equation. “Our goals this year are to put our young ladies in the position to fight for individual and relay team state titles,” he said.
The first track meet of the season was March 21 at College of St. Mary, and the second will be Friday at Doane University.
