In track and field, the 300-meter hurdle race is one of
the sport’s toughest. Sabrina Matias, Div. 580, finds herself
running the 300-meter hurdles four times at race pace, plus
a 30-meter sprint at the end of each for her workout.
After completing this for the third time her prior meal is
now on display for all to see.
Every day athletes get up and go through grueling exercise.
Sweat, tears, pain, injuries, etc. Athletes must endure
many obstacles.
What pushes them to do what they do — why are athletes
athletes?
Matias started off as someone looking to get involved
in an extracurricular activity. After attempting to do cross
country and ultimately deciding it was not for her, she quit.
Cross Country and Boys Track & Field coach Kris Roof
advised Matias to come out for track season. She gave it a
shot. Now she could not imagine her life without track.
Malik Hamilton, Div. 580, plays football and runs track.
He just wants to be as great as he can be.
“Most people have the same motivation as mine, but I’ve
experienced rough times, like injuries,” Hamilton said.
This past football season Hamilton was blocking for a
teammate when not one, not two, but three players fell on
his leg. The result was a fractured leg and an abrupt end to
his football season. He had to watch from the sidelines. He
went from being one of the fastest athletes out there to having
difficulty walking, all in a matter of seconds. Hamilton,
who loves to be on the field or in the gym working at his
craft, had to give it a break. This led Hamilton to acquire a
new perspective.
“I was able to get a feel of what it’s like not to be able to
do physical activities,” Hamilton said.
That led him to look at things like working out differently.
When a workout is hard, he now reflects on the time when
the simple task of just getting around was difficult.
Samantha DeGryse, Div. 577, is the Girls Varsity Soccer
goalie. The role of the goalie is so important that the
outcome of games can be directly attributed to her performance
in some cases. Last year in the first conference game
of the season versus rival Whitney Young, DeGryse gave up
three goals all due to a similar error. She went home fuming
mad and after talking it over with her parents, figured out
how she was misjudging the ball. This led to endless practice
aimed at fixing the flaw.
This year trying out for the team, DeGryse was already
aware that one of the feats required to make the team was
to run a mile in under seven minutes. Just over three weeks
prior to the tryout DeGryse ran an 8:23 mile, well off where
she needed to be. Faced with the same test at the tryout,
DeGryse rose to the occasion and ran a 6:53.
At the end of the day, athletes know what is at risk. The
reward that can be garnered will always present itself.
“Knowing I could possibly win the next game or even
championship is what really [drives] me,” DeGryse said.