With spring break wrapped in between, it has been a busy couple of weeks for the track and field team. With three meets in the last two weeks and three more to come in the following two weeks, the season is in full swing.

On Mar. 26, the team participated in its first invitational of the season, the Urbana Invite at Urbana High School. The girls’ varsity team finished eighth overall (42 points) out of 20 teams and boys’ varsity finished 13th overall (27 points) out of 20 teams. “The Urbana meet was very difficult because of the extreme conditions that we all had to compete in, but despite that the team showed a great deal of effort and resilience,” sprinters coach Mo Drammeh said. 

Senior sprinter Jake Drykerman and sophomore distance runner Victoria Ketzler each recorded top 10 all-time record times in school track history in the the long jump (20-01.75) and 1600 meters (5:23.50) respectively.  

On Apr. 6, the team participated in its first tri-team meet of the season. It was held on the Walter Johnson track as the Wildcats hosted us and the BCC Barons. This meet contained good weather for once and the team was able to benefit from that. “Overall the team did well and continued to show improvement as we were led by another set of top 10 in Wootton history performances from senior Jake Drykerman (long jump), sophomore Victoria Ketzler (1600 m) and junior Maya Gottesman (3200 m),” Drammeh said. 

On the first Saturday of spring break, the team participated in their second invitational of the season, the Woodward Relays, located on the home track facility of Georgetown Prep. Attendance was light due to vacation plans, but those who participated showed up and showed out. 

“This meet was tough because the entire meet was run as relays, which aren’t practiced consistently by everyone. We had another set of all time performances but I think the meet was highlighted by our steeplechase runners [senior] Christopher Yeh and [junior] Rebecca Vasconez. The whole team had a great time watching their teammates jumping through the water obstacle,” Drammeh said. 

Girls’ varsity finished 10th overall (21 points) out of 18 teams and boys’ varsity finished ninth overall (27 points) out of 20 teams. “We are on the right track for great performances at counties and regionals. As a team, we are running well, especially in the worst conditions possible. It is difficult to run in freezing rain and with the wind, but it just shows the toughness we have on our team,” distance coach Jackson Nosbisch said. 

Looking ahead, the team has three more meets in the next two weeks, which include one last tri-team meet and two invitationals leading up to counties, regionals and states in mid-May. 

Coming up on Apr. 30, the team has their fourth and final invitational of the season called the Gator Track and Field invite. 

As the second half of the season begins its final stretch and the postseason emerges, excitement and anticipation has never been higher.