As the indoor track season reaches its peak athletes are putting in their best efforts to qualify for states or nationals. After months of hard training and intense competition, these runners are well prepared for the upcoming regional meet. For many athletes this competition is a stepping stone to greater goals and are determined to race well.

Senior Rendon Yerman is competing in the 3200-meter event and has been focusing on maintaining a disciplined training schedule to ensure peak performance. Yerman credits his preparation to a combination of consistent running, proper recovery and maintaining a healthy sleep schedule.“I am preparing by running every day, resting healthy and getting good sleep,” Yerman said.

Junior Nathan Downie (this writer’s brother) is competing in the 800 and 1600-meter events. Downie is preparing for the event by putting in hard work on the track and combining that with long runs. He’s doing “lots of speed work and long runs mixed with 800 specific speed work,” Downie said.

Downie hopes that the regional event will continue the trend of good races that he has had and it will set up for a good race at states.“I feel that the season has been going well with lots of fast races and new records and it will hopefully continue to go well,” Downie said.

Downie’s hard work has set him up well for regionals and other races. “The work has been hard but it will all be worth it from what will come from it,” Downie said.

With his training and recent performances, Downie is aiming for the top spot in both of his upcoming races. Downie’s goal is clear and he is ready to prove himself against high level competition“I think if I race smart then I should win both races at regionals,” Downie said.

Junior Luke Gabrielle will be competing in the 1600-meter event. Gabrielle is getting ready for his event by focusing on both running and strength training to maximize his performance .“I am doing daily running and weight training and making sure I eat a healthy diet,” Gabrielle said.

Gabrielle said that his season is going well and has a good chance in his upcoming race and he has a good chance of finishing well. Gabrielle is happy with his season and is satisfied with the preparations he has made for the upcoming outdoor track season. “I feel like my chances are good going into the race,” Gabrielle said.

Freshman Brandon Kneisler is competing in the 1600 meter. Kneisler is experiencing what it feels like to be on a track team for the first time, has been training daily by incorporating long runs, track workouts, gym sessions and a healthy diet into his preparations for the race. “I feel the season has been going great so far, I’ve experienced what it’s like to be on a track team for the first time ever,” Kneisler said.