Track and Field is fundamentally an individual sport. Whether it’s sprinting, distance, high jump, discus, or long jump, athletes are ultimately competing against themselves to achieve a new personal best. However, the unity aspect that comes with the team is what makes track and field such a rewarding sport.

This balance of individuality and community is especially potent for Mitty’s Track and Field team. With track requiring a collective effort from the team, individuality can only get you so far. Junior Aaron Biebel, a sprinter and long jumper, explains “The team is focused on getting in shape and building a tight community with each other.” After a strong showing last year, including appearances at Arcadia Invitational and at the CIF state championships, Mitty’s Track and Field team is looking forward to another promising season.

The team is looking to redeem themselves from their shortcomings from last year at state. Biebel adds, “Our team is looking to go far this year. Last year we made it to state for the 4×4. This year we are looking to qualify for more events.”

When it comes to the various disciplines in track and field, the 400 meter is arguably one of the hardest sprint events. Both the women’s and men’s teams excel at the 400-meter relay: in the 2023 CCS Top 8 Meet, the women’s and men’s 4x400M relay teams placed first and second respectively. However, the challenge of running the 400M individually generates a unique feeling of personal pride and accomplishment. Biebel explains it this way: “I keep doing it because I know it’s challenging and not everyone is going to be able to do it.”

Despite the race’s difficulty, Mitty’s team boasts one of the best 400M runners in the state! Senior Alice Tsioutsioulikli is ranked in the Top 50 in California for the event. She explains that her strategy for running the event is to get out of the first 100M really fast, glide through the 200M, and then sprint the last 100M.

Junior Tiana Osuna, a sprinter and hurdler, explains that it’s not only about what one does on the track, but also about what one does off the track as well: “We look forward to continue improving and beating our personal bests from last season; keep working hard each practice and give it our all during the big meets. Making sure we eat the right foods, get enough sleep, and drink lots of water. These are just steps to get closer to our goals for the season.” Osuna, in addition to sophomore Laniah Simpson and Junior Taylor Oden, swept the 100M Hurdles in the CCS Top 8 Meet.

A great team of athletes is always led by a great coaching staff. Head Coach Gaspar Torregroza (class of ‘82) has over 30 years of experience coaching track and field, with 22 league and CCS titles over his tenure. Moreover, the team has made a handful of updates to the coaching staff: the addition of distance Coach Ryan Olein, women’s Sprint Coach Wes Jones, Jumps Coach Eddie Simpson, Throwing Coach Fred Koloto, and the promotion of Coach Ryan Oden to Head Women’s coach. The team has a coaching staff that is eager to build upon the team’s strengths from last year.

And while it does take a good coaching staff for team success, a foundation for team success can only be implemented with the communal efforts of everyone involved. However, success doesn’t come without challenges. As Taylor Oden explains, “I feel like this season has been tough and we’ve worked really hard to put our names out there.”

Athletes have worked to overcome individual challenges and relay teams underwent lineup shuffles in order to find the best fit.  The team overcomes these obstacles when they practice and before the relays by performing team rituals that ease anxiety before a race. Taylor Oden notes, “One ritual we have before the relay is we huddle up together and pray. We also say some kind words to get each other hyped up. This definitely helps the nerves go away because it reminds me that even though we are elite athletes, it’s important to remember that it’s also fun.”

This tenet of community has made the team extremely competitive and successful, as evidenced by the placements of Mitty’s stellar relay teams. At the Saint Francis Invitational, the boys 4x200M relay team, girls 4x200M, and girls 4x400M teams all placed first in their respective races. Head Coach Torregroza commented, “In all my years… this has never happened.”

Ultimately, the track and field team this year is an embodiment of excellence as well as a community made up of individuals who strive to be a part of something greater than themselves. The final break at the end of a meet encompasses the unity of the Mitty Track and Field community: “Family on me Family on three.”