Track is a phenomenal sport that helps athletes condition for another sport or simply for the love of hard work and competition. Like most sports, track is another area in which Millbrook excels over most of its competitors. In a recent JDL Mini Meet,, both Millbrook teams had a top 20 finish in every event. Standouts like sophomore Josh Mclean who finished fourth in both the 300 meter and 500 meter dash are very prevalent on this team. Senior Thomas Nulty placed first in the 55 meter hurdles with an outstanding 7.94 time. Sophomore Keiona Stotts helped the women’s team finishing twelfth in the 300 meter dash and sixth in the 500 meter. Fellow underclassmen Emilie Buzitsky finished second in the 3200 meter with a 12:28.6 time. These efforts carried the men to finish second and the women to finish eleventh.

Running track and doing as well, as Millbrook has, is much harder than most people think. The preparation alone is probably more than any other sport, as the athletes must drink large amounts of water and carb load as much as possible before meets. The preparation is only what it takes to complete races, while winning them takes a lot more effort. Sophomore Josh Mclean said, “Until I started running track, I had never felt the need to eat so much. It uses so much energy that you have to eat all day just for practice.” To excel above the competition requires treating every day and every practice like a competition. Millbrook’s track stars not only show phenomenal amounts of dedication but determination as well. They push each other in practice to improve every day and expect the best out of each other which are keys to any successful team. Coach Dustin Adams said, “After finishing second in states last year, we lost a lot of depth, but have gained a lot of young talent in distance and sprints. I’m expecting Elijah Cole to compete for the state championship in pole vaulting.”

Earlier this month, Millbrook was  honored to send Eli Cole, Thomas Nulty, Emilie Buzitzky, Tucker Cera, and Luke Gostling to the 2016 NCHSAA Indoor State Championships in Winston-Salem. Each individual represented the team for their respective events, while Emilie Buzitzky was the lone freshman sent by Millbrook. Eli Cole is fourteenth in the nation for pole vaulting with a 15’6” personal record, which is only possible with constant work. There was some added pressure as Millbrook placed second in states last year, but each one of the individuals is a great and capable asset to give the team a good placement. Junior Andre Freeman said, “Everyone representing our team at states is an extremely hard worker. They love track and pushed themselves to get that honor.” No matter if it is indoor or outdoor track, the sport takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Qualifying as individuals for a state competition takes a consistent work ethic and a great coach. Anyone on the team knows that experiencing success requires a lot of effort, which is something never to regret.