Track and field will compete at the annual district championship meet April 2-3 at Lobo Stadium in Little Elm. 

“I want [our] athletes to be relaxed and focused before the event,” head coach Chance Edwards said. “It’s a big deal, [and] I don’t want them panicking. I want aggression from them. I want them to get after it.” 

The first day of competition will deal with most hurdle events and running preliminaries. The second day will deal with relays and running finals. Field events are strung out throughout both days.

“It’s so stressful, because I know this [meet] is the deciding factor,” senior Janiah Leejay said. “District shows off all of the work I’ve put in the [last] four years.”

During this season’s meets at home, Plano West and Marcus, the team achieved new personal records in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, several relays, long jumps and long distance running. 

“We’ve done real well at recent meets,” Edwards said. “The meets have really given athletes the opportunity to show off the work they’ve put in, and I hope they can push for that level of greatness at district, too.”

The district championship will be followed by area championships, then state championships, then nationals. In order to pass on from district to area, finalists’ marks have to be in the top four of their event.

”I’m going to put everything toward district [championships] that I can,” senior Cole Coppedge said. “I’ve already earned confidence that I’m going to be fine making it into finals, but when I get to finals, I have no reason not to give it everything I have.”

This year, all track and field competitors have to ride the same bus to the event. They’re prohibited from leaving early, unlike previous years. Edwards said he hopes they’ll cheer each other on more.

“I always tell them to [cheer,]” Edwards said. “I want [athletes] to scream and shout and make sure their [teammates] hear them. Even if it’s not your event, it encourages the team to push harder and get those good scores in events.”