This year Josie Sanders and Shyla Salcido are two of Alliance High School’s track runners. They do different events, Josie is a runner and Shyla is a thrower. The two want the same thing; to win. These two girls are the most competitive people you will probably ever meet.

Josie has been doing track since fifth grade, as the manager, and she didn’t start competing until the sixth grade. Josie said, “I do a little bit of everything from hurdles to 100 dashes.” Josie has always loved doing hurdles after jumping them one day at practice. Last year, Josie broke the school record in the 300 hurdles so she hopes she can just keep breaking the record and keep getting better. She also hopes she can set a new PR (personal record) in all of her other events. Josie hopes the girl’s team this year can continue to do really well and win a few more meets than we did last year. Josie said, “I am personally preparing myself for Saturday by working hard in practice and thinking back to last season on how well I performed.” 

Shyla has watched track and knew what it was about but she didn’t start competing till her eighth-grade year. Shyla said, “In track, I throw shot put and throw discus.” In her eighth-grade year, Shyla said she was pretty good at throwing shot put, and she even went to state for it! She also mentioned that discus came with shot put and although she wasn’t as good at it, she is working hard on getting better. Shyla said, “A personal goal I have for myself is to get a new PR (personal record). Right now my PR is 33 ½ meters and I would like to get it to at least 35 meters.” Shyla hopes during this season that the girls will win a few more track meets like they did last year and she also hopes that the boys will have an opportunity to win some too. Shyla said, “I am personally preparing myself for the first track meet by making goals in my head, and every time I beat a goal I make a new one, and I do this throughout the season.” 

The track team’s first meet is this Saturday and they are preparing by splitting up into different event categories and working on technique. The team makes sure that everyone shows up and has their head in the game. Sometimes after practice, people will stay an hour and fifteen minutes to two hours just to try and get better. Let’s hope Josie, Shyla, and their team do well this Saturday at their first track meet of the season!