As the 2022 indoor track and field season is officially underway, the girls team has doubled in size compared to last year going from approximately 50 athletes to well over 100 this season.

Coming out of lockdown this growth was something that was expected according to varsity track and field coach Tess Johnson.

“Last year we had 50 girls, and this year we have almost 100 on the team,” Johnson said.

With this sudden surge of athletes, the track and field program has now been re-energized with new, young athletes in each discipline. Senior Elise D’Aquila noticed this growth right away.

“We constantly have new athletes coming in and joining once their winter sport ends. Track is the type of sport that can make you stronger and faster [during] your off season for your other sport. With that, I have also seen passion grow. Kids are eager and excited to come back to track, [and] they want to get better for themselves and their team,” D’Aquila said.

The returning and new athletes alike have already seen growth in their events.

“Last season we had a ton of girls who haven’t done much because of the lockdown, but this year people were able to get out in the summer and do off-season training… I would say half of our team is new to track [and field]; it’s a very young team. I think that’s how a lot of the sports teams are this year,” Johnson said.

The boys track and field team have also seen similar growth, with the team increasing by about 30 athletes.

Senior Kyeon Westbrook stated how this has an impact on the team’s performance and chemistry.

“With more people [on the team], the energy in the building is always higher and more fun, and that in turn makes you run faster. The culture is back, and it feels better than ever,” Westbook said.

The boys team will have their next meet on Feb. 26 at Proviso West High School at 9 a.m. The girls team will be competing the same day at Batavia High School at 8 a.m.