LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — The upcoming Los Alamitos High School track and field season remains to be seen. Yet, almost every athlete on the team can foresee exciting breakthroughs and new records in their 2025 season. As a third-year runner on the team, I hope to be more than dominant on the track. I wouldn’t be able to elevate myself without learning from the stronger, more experienced athletes on the team; I feel extremely grateful to them and the coaches.

“I aspire to run a 10.9 for the 100-meter dash and a low 22 for the 200-meter dash. (I need to) stay ready and get ready. I have to make it my season. It’s my only track season in high school,” Justice Croffie, a senior on the LAHS track and field team, said.

With only a month left to draft their ideal season out, the athletes are working extra hard to ensure they look and feel tough when they step on the starting line.

“I’m really worried about the injuries I may face. Track is really hard on the body, and I think injuries are everyone’s biggest fear, especially since it’s very difficult to hide an injury in track,” Barber said. “I plan to overcome injuries by taking care of my body and my mind; this includes ice baths, Epsom salt baths, foam rolling and lots of stretching.”

Track and field is not a sport with a game plan prepared by the coach. There is a level of individualism that most team athletes find the hardest to navigate. They’re constantly humbling themselves, redefining their potential and asking questions. Each athlete has their own game plan set and their path to the finish line.

“I look up to a lot of college runners, specifically Brooklyn Davis, a former LAHS sprinter. She currently runs track at Cal State Fullerton and is shining! My primary goal in track is to have fun, push myself to my fullest potential and run track in college,” Barber said.

With coaches more dedicated to their event teams than ever, track and field athletes might feel obligated to show up not only for themselves but also for their whole team.

“I like to think of the pressure as a push or motivation to be the best athlete I can be. The coaches would not put the pressure on you if they did not think you are capable of handling it,” Olivia Bettinger, another track and field team senior, said.

Bettinger emphasizes the importance of mental toughness, as doubt or feeling overwhelmed can easily affect an athlete’s mentality, especially when competition is approaching.

“In pole vaulting, I am preparing myself to be physically tough by keeping a strict training plan, where I work out six out of seven days a week. Mental toughness is incorporated into every part of my life, (so I) continuously stay disciplined,” Bettinger said. “If you overperform one day and underperform the next, study your mind and what you were feeling to be more successful. It is crucial to (understand) that it is impossible to give 100% every single day.”

I’m stoked to have another chance at running on healthy legs and with a good support team. Training with such talented and hardworking people will challenge me for the better.

“For my teammates and my friends, I hope they perform to the best of their potential and ability while enjoying themselves,” Bettinger said.

I’m excited to see how we overcome our setbacks and, ultimately, how we end up as a team. I wish everyone the best in our 2025 season!