It’s no secret the amount of work Hempfield track athletes put in at each practice. The “Coach Wilson workouts” are just the ”warm ups,” but calling it just a warm up might be an understatement. They are physically demanding, but the full intent is to prepare our athletes for competition.

“The Coach WIlson drills are definitely tough, but I feel like they definitely help me in my conditioning for running things like the 300m hurdles,” says junior Reddik Katchur.

The turn out on the first day of the track and field season was full of new faces. Football players that have never been a part of the track team, are looking to improve their athleticism for their upcoming season, and hopefully help the team win some competitions at the meets.

Head Football coach Nick Keefer has been a part of the Hempfield track and football programs for years. He understands the importance of how running track can help develop his football player’s athleticism. At the end of the 2023 football season, Coach Keefer has a one on one conversation with each player, talking about their future plans, and how they can improve for the upcoming season. He encourages each skill position to run or jump for the track team.

            The team’s ultimate goal is to win, plain and simple. Coach Wilson always stresses the importance of hard work in practice, so it can translate into when it’s time to compete. The track program at Hempfield has a long history of success, with a multitude of amazing athletes with individual accomplishments. The team this year is full of talent that can help lead the team to the playoffs once again. Leading the way on the boys side are seniors Peyton Murray, who throws discuss and shot put, Caleb Prola, who runs the 100m and 4x100m relay, and junior Luke Snider, who runs the 1600m and 3200m. The girls are led by seniors Grace Iwig, who pole vaults and high jumps, and Alexa Gray, who long and triple jumps, and runs the 100m and 4x100m.