As Chamblee’s track and field season winds down, athletes have consistently showcased their skill and dedication. With only a few events remaining, the team is eager to end the season on a triumphant note.

“I hope that the whole team powers on through the rest of the track season and just stays strong,” said Nicholas Jovanovic (’27).

Practice has played a very important role in maintaining the team’s momentum this year; each of the players have individual focuses that prepare them for competition.

“When we do track practice, there are some days where we do more technical work and improve form; other days it’s more of a workout day,” said Aubri Stephenson (‘27).

Practices are tailored to different aspects of athletes’ performances, depending on their events.

“I do hurdles, so we have a different workout than other people,” said Jovanovic. “Normally, we do the 300-meter hurdles on Mondays and then the 100-meter on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. On Thursdays, we practice sprints and distance to improve endurance.”

With the postseason underway and with regions in the rearview, the team is shifting its focus to the challenge ahead.

“We just had regions. We’re training for sectionals in two weeks,” said Ryan Shimabukuro (‘26).   If we place in the top eight at sectionals, we’ll go to state in three weeks.”

Many athletes are optimistic about advancing very far in the competition.

“I’m really hoping the team as a whole can advance past region and maybe even sectionals,” said Stephenson. “Maybe we can get some people to go to state. I think that’d be a really nice and good experience for everyone.”

Coaches of the track team note that during the postseason, mental preparation is as important as physical preparation.

“We train every day, we’ve been doing it all season, so we already know that we’re physically ready,” said coach Hakim Felts. “The grind of a long season sometimes gets to athletes, and they don’t perform at their best. We’re just making sure that they’re still having fun while training hard at the same time.”

Even though the team has solid positioning headed into sectionals, athletes are concerned that some specific events will be very difficult to advance in.

“We’re seeded eighth right now. It’s going to be very tough for the 4×8 team, but everyone else looks pretty good,” said Shimabukuro.

Athletes are feeling the pressure of the upcoming events, and many are hoping that their individual performance will be enough to contribute to the success of the team.

“I definitely want to get better for my team,” said Hannes Els (‘27).  “I’m only on relays, so it’s about coordination with my team and being the best I can, so I don’t let them down.”

The sense of camaraderie among Chamblee’s athletes has played a key role in their success this season.

“Everyone’s really supportive of each other and you can just talk to whoever you want,” said Bahia Burks (‘27).  “Everyone’s really nice, which makes for a great community.”

Coaches agree that a support network is a vital part of any successful track team.

“In order to have a championship-level team, you have to support each other and you have to be there for each other. I’ve seen our athletes do that, not only at meets, but also in practice,” said Felts.

Many athletes find that friendly competition pushes them to perform even better.

“Racing with my friends is the best. It’s awesome to compete against them, but it’s better to beat them,” said Shimabukuro.

Many athletes believe that, on top of the physical benefits, Track and Field also offers a sense of peace.

“[Running] is really freeing. A lot of people say they hate running, but it’s kind of relaxing for me, and it feels good to be in shape,” said Els.

Athletes find that maintaining an optimistic attitude has been an essential part of the team’s success, and it helps them stay motivated through tough moments.

“With track, you really have to keep a positive mindset,” said Stephenson. “When you keep that positive mindset, you’re definitely in a good mood.”