Freshmen LOTAs have excelled this school year being a part of several sports like lacrosse, volleyball, poms and field hockey. One of the more popular sports this season has been track, with about 50 runners and three throwers. Thirteen of the runners are freshmen.
Claros Pla, the Academy’s track coach, enjoys working with the freshmen. One of his favorite things about coaching track is seeing the development of the athletes over the years.
“I like seeing them as freshmen, growing and learning a new event. And then by senior year, seeing them almost master the event,” he said.
Pla is excited for this year’s freshman to compete, and thinks that each of them bring a unique ability to the team.
Freshman Jaylen Ndaka is running track for the first time this spring season.
“I do long sprints and hurdles,” she shared.
Ndaka was a member of the varsity basketball team this past winter and participates in track to stay active during the off season.
“I don’t really like doing hurdles, but I know that they make me stronger,” she explained.
Freshman Salome Nyangaya has run track and field since middle school and finds high school track and middle school track to be very different.
“In middle school, you can choose what event you might want to do, but in high school it is all practice-based,” Nyangaya described. “You do what your coach thinks you are capable of doing the best.”
Pla agreed that middle school track and high school track are different.
“The amount of work is higher, ” he shared.
Although transitioning from the two levels of track can be challenging, Pla believes that the freshmen are adjusting well.
Ndaka and Nyangaya have both loved their experience with the track team so far this year.
“The coach is very nice and it is a good environment,” Ndaka expressed.
Nyangayna also has been benefiting from the positive environment.
“All season I have been improving my form when I’m running and getting my knees higher,” she said. “Coach Pla always tells us ‘thumb to your eye, elbow to the sky!’”
