Track and field is a group of sports events including relay, javelin, pole vault, and much more. Many of these events involve running on a track. The track and field coach at MBMS is Dan O’Farrell. Coach O’Farrell teaches his students track techniques then helps his students pick an event that suits them best.

Coach O’Farrell said that, “Most kids coming into my program have never thrown a javelin, attempted a shot put, jumped over hurdles, flew over a crossbar in high jump or launched themselves into a long jump sand pit.” Since these kids come into track without a lot of experience, O’Farrell is able to ensure the kids will learn the right rules and safety precautions.

To be successful in track, students need determination, good endurance, and to be adventurous. There are consistent meets and practices. In the meets, students get to test out what they have been practicing, and it is a way to determine if the event suits them. In track, students compete with others, while also competing with themselves. Students are timed in track, and oftentimes that is used as a way to measure how much they are improving.

Coach O’Farrell’s personal favorite track event is the 300 meter hurdles. There are eight hurdles on the track that the runners leap over. When it comes to coaching, O’Farrell said that his favorite event to coach is always changing.

“When an athlete comes up to me with a beaming smile because they just got their personal best in competition, that becomes my favorite event for that moment, every time,” he said.

Track and field starts off with some free practices to get a feel for what track is like. Then you pay around eighty dollars online to continue with the program. This all takes place during the Spring starting in March. Track and field is good for building endurance, but it is also good in many other ways. According to Coach O’Farrell,“Track and field is a great place to forge bonds with teammates, pushing each other in workouts, cheering at meets, encouraging them when efforts fall short.”