Due to scheduling conflicts, the boys and girls track teams were unable to host a meet at home this season, but that eliminated the possibility of senior night to honor the graduating class. To resolve this, the track team hosted an intra-squad meet and senior night on Tuesday, April 11 at Robinson High School.

“We (the coaching staff) wanted to find a way to honor our seniors, and we had 13 seniors here so we were not going to let the year go by without doing something,” head track coach Manuel Montero said. “This was the biggest group of seniors we have ever had, so this was a big deal for us.”

This large bunch of seniors includes six pole vaulters, six sprinters, and one long distance runner. For pole vaulter James Wilson (’17), the only four-year boy on the track team, this senior night was something for which he’d been waiting.

“I’ve been running track since sixth grade. But in high school, every senior night was huge and there was so much support from the students,” Wilson said. “I had been looking forward to this meet, so I am so glad that we were able to make one work.”

Isabel Hanewicz (’17), the only graduating long distance runner, has been a part of the girls track team for four years. This meet was not a time for her last steps, as she plans to join a running club in college, but a time for her last steps with her teammates.

“At first I was disappointed because it was not a meet, but I think it was more fun this way. We got to compete against each other and we all tie-dyed shirts together. It was just really fun to be with my teammates, which is what I will miss most about track,” Hanewicz said. “I am not going to have the team after high school, and so this was really special.”

Both the boys and girls track teams will compete in the 3A-9 district meet on Wednesday, April 19, at Gaither High School (16200 N. Dale, Tampa, FL 33618.)