Bloomington High School North, Nikean, 2012, Page 166

Description:	:41a mental strength becauseto learn to keep going,which is why I feel that the distancegirls are really close because wealways lean on each other and pusheach other to do our best.With Erin Connor, Christine Sparks, LeighDukeman, Juli Gardner, and Amala AfoakuDescribe a typical praobce and describe yourErin Connor: Practices, usually, we start as a team, ancf we jusevent.just run some warm-uplaps and do some conditioning drills together just to get our bodies warmed up forthe practice and make sure that were all ready to go. Its a time when we all spendtime together as team, and then after that we split up into our individual eventgroups. We do field events, distance, and sprinters, and its a time to just focus onyour event, working the muscles that you need to work on and really specializingin the important stuff. I run the 200 and the 400, which is really fun. I love runningspring events because its not so much about the competitors that youre racingagainst, but its about physically and mentally preparing yourself and going out there and having the confidence and knowing that youve prepared and the coach has gotten you ready; that you can run well.Christine Sparks: And after we do, we split off. Sometimes well do some extra strengthening, like a coreworkout, like lunges and squats and stuff. I usually run the 4x8 and the two-mile. The 4x8 is really excitingbecause I run it with all my friends and I love relays because theres really no pressure and you are such ateam. The two-mile is eight laps and you kinda have to be a little bit crazy to run that, but I love it and its fun.Leigh Dukeman: And when we have practice throughout the week, Coach will usually change each practice; well have hard workouts, easy workouts, it just depends on what she wants us to work on that day.And I usually run the 4x4, which is really exciting. Its the last event so everyone is watching and cheeringfor you, unlike any other event where theres not as much cheering because not everyones done.Juli Gardner: I usually run the 4x8 and the 800, and the 800 is usually in the middle of the meet andits the half-mile, which is really cool because it takes a lot of mental strength and physical strength todo it because you basically have to sprint two laps. It takes a mental strength because you have to learnto keep going, which is why I feel that the distance girls are really close because we always lean on eachother and push each other to do our best.now that our wholem really wants to getback at South and winsectionals and regionals, but I also hope thata lot more of us make itto state this year becausethat would be really exciting. We had such a bigteam last year and havingan even bigger state teamwould just be amazing.-How do you det focused for a meet?Leigh: To prepare myself, I usually try and listen to some calming music because I get reallynervous, or just try to take a little nap or something right before we start warm-up; just torelax myself and not over-think things because I do that a lot. And just cheering for yourteammates and being with your teammates throughout the race; that really helps.Juli: I usually start to focus during drills. I start to work on the special things that weneed to be focusing on during our drills, and that helps me focus for the meet. And onceI do that, I start really getting into the meet and I start to cheer on my teammates, andencourage them to do their best, and that usually helps me do my best, because I get mymind in the game when I help them and so that helps me.Amala: I usually start to focus during drills. I start to think about my goals and all of thetimes and the lengths that I want to accomplish that day. And before the 4x1 well all praytogether, and I think that helps us focus on the goal.Vhat are you hopmd to achieve this season?Erin: We have a lot of new talent on our team this year; we have so many talented freshmen,know that our team is gonna go really far and were hoping to be sectional and regionalchamps this year hopefully. Im hoping that we get the chance to go to state again, because itexperience to be with all of the really amazing runners from around the stateof Indiana.Leigh: I know that our whole team really wants to get back at South and win sectionals andregionals, but I also hope that a lot more of us make it to state this year because that would bereally exciting. We had such a big team last year and having an even bigger state team wouldjust be amazing.
Source:	http://cdm17129.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/hs-bloomnorth/id/7328
Collection:	Bloomington High School North

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