Cheers echo off the walls, mixing with the starter’s gun and the chatter of determined athletes. In the crowd of chaos, four Merrillville track athletes, Demarco Easter, Jaylen Ramsey, John Peters and Adam Camphor step out onto the track, each with something to prove and a story to tell.
They spent every day after school at practice putting in hard work and determination to accomplish their goals.
Head Coach Patrick Coffey, along with numerous other coaches, they as well put hard work into their coaching skills. Everyday they spend their hours planning workouts, analyzing splits and times, and giving words of encouragement to all their athletes. When athletes succeed it’s not just a victory on the track, it’s the payoff of months of dedication from the hard-working coaches.
“We try to have them visualize their race mentally the night before,” Coach Coffey said. “Depending on who’s competing in what, we have to have the game plan ready for the week, so it’s all just preparation on the coaches parts for the training.”
“And then after that we hand it off to them. As far as getting things done, for example sleeping, eating healthy and taking proper care of themselves.”
Before athletes make their way onto the outdoor track, they use the indoor season to sharpen their speed, endurance and race strategies. It’s a key step in building speed and strength for outdoor success.
“I would say indoor prepares me for outdoor season because it helps me get my steps right for long jump and make sure I’m actually hitting the board, it also gives me a chance to get my block start right,” Senior Jaylen Ramsey said.
“I do prefer outdoor season over indoor because everything just runs faster, it’s more competitive than indoor and my performance actually contributes to the outdoor season state.”
Although every race, jump, or throw from track athletes looks effortless, behind the scene, these athletes struggle with injuries, doubt and being unprepared for a meet.
“Something I struggle with in pole vault is my form and injuries,” Junior Demarco Easter said. “Pole vault is such an injury prone sport. If you mess up in the slightest, you risk getting hurt and missing the pit.”
Despite the challenges these athletes face, these athletes find a way to stay motivated through the season. Whether it’s personal goals, support from family and teammates or just the joy they get from their event, their power to success keeps them going throughout the indoor and outdoor seasons.
“I really hope to just finish my season by just working hard, giving it my all,” Senior Adam Camphor said. “By the end of my senior year, I hope to win outdoor state, make it on the Merrillville Hall of Fame wall and throw as far as possible this season … My future keeps me motivated through the season, I have good things coming for me so that just keeps me motivated to better myself.”
Behind every athlete with their personal motivation that feeds their success, track and field isn’t always a solo sport.
Seniors Jaylen Ramsey and John Peters have built a friendship throughout their four years on the track team that keeps them motivated and inspires them to do better for themselves. This year they are competing with and against each other in the long jump.
“Teamwork plays a part in my success because we’re always pushing each other to do better and I think the harder we go and better we perform, the more we’re going to win together” Peters said.
Ramsey agrees.
“We really push each other at practice and just expect good things for one another.” he said. “Which just makes us go harder at meets and pushes us to perform better.”
