A Knack for Track

Photo+by+Kianna+Garner

Photo by Kianna Garner

Madi Weaver

As the track season is nearing its final weeks some of the athletes have more to look forward to than their last meets. This year several members of the track and field team including seniors Olivia Lytle, Clayton Juarez, and William DeMaris as well as sophomore Maya McFadden, are all up for a challenge. These students must learn up to six new events that they have never attempted before by June 6th when they are competing in either a decathlon or heptathlon. “I can’t wait to pole vault, it looks super fun!” Juarez, who usually throws javelin, said.

A decathlon is a combined event consisting of 10 track and field events while a heptathlon consists of 7. Both are won by the contestant amassing the highest total score. The decathlon is contested mainly by male athletes, while female athletes typically compete in the heptathlon. “I’m excited to do the heptathlon because it will be a fun way to end my senior track season, and I get to try all the events I’ve never done before,” said Lytle, the girls’ sprints captain.

The athletes will be competing against students from multiple different schools from across the state. “It’s a good opportunity to represent myself and my school, and my best friend Will DeMaris is doing it with me,” Juarez said. The competition will take place at Lake Stevens High School and as the weeks wind down the athletes will prepare extensively for this unique opportunity.