Track is competing in District at Burnet High School today and tomorrow.
“Some really good athletes in our District from all schools are competing,” track coach Karalyn Baker said. “District is divided into two days. Day one is Field events and running prelims. Day two is Running Finals including the relays.”
Baker focuses on getting her athletes better each day. She wants them to focus on themselves and their teammates and focus on day-by-day mentality.
“To physically prepare [the team] I try to break field events and start down to make them better at the details and then we take pride in whatever our running work out is,” Baker said. “We focus on quality of the workouts rather than quantity. Physical preparation includes focusing on improving speed, stamina and running mechanics through interval training with structured rest.”
Baker’s goal is to coach the best she can.
“We are not a large group but what we have is QUALITY,” Baker said. “It is also for the athletes to give and do their absolute best and to hopefully have as many athletes as we can get out of District and be able to go to Area.”
Baker said they are going to get as many points that they can in field events.
“Again, our goal is for each individual to be better than they were last meet,” Baker said. “The rest takes care of itself.”
Junior Mykel Johnson said she creates a routine that she can follow, then visualizes her throwing successfully.
“To help with competing, I throw with a boy’s shot before I use the girls to strengthen my arm for more power exertion,” Johnson said.
Johnson’s goal is to always throw farther than the last meet.
“When throwing gets hard, I focus on my release and having proper hip position and take a deep breath, that way I am focused on that and only that and my head is clear,” she said.
Johnson said she had to overcome the outside noise and had to learn to not listen to what people were saying when watching. She had to believe in herself and know what she personally can do.
