As the track season comes to an end, students at San Dimas are preparing for league prelims and finals. With both meets just around the corner, athletes are getting ready to compete against rivals from local schools such as Alta Loma, Los Altos, Colony, and South Hills.

For many students, track has been more than just a sport; it has been a way to bond with teammates, build lasting friendships, and, for off-season athletes, stay in shape.

As the season winds down, many athletes are beginning to realize these may be their final days on the track.

Senior Michael Young Bowers reflected on his complicated relationship with the sport, saying, “I definitely have a love-hate relationship with track. It’s given me so much, but it’s also taken so much out of me; my time, my energy. I fractured both my shins and recently hurt my hamstring, and yet I’ve gone back every year because it’s addicting. The only thing you’re racing against is your own time. So I will miss it, but I’ve given everything I can, so I’m ready for it to be over.”

League finals are not just another meet for most track athletes. They represent the culmination of everything learned throughout the season and a chance to compete against the best athletes in the area. It is an opportunity to showcase months of hard work and dedication.

For seniors, however, these meets carry even greater significance. For many, they will be their final competitions and their last chance to prove themselves to other schools, their teammates, and themselves. Every senior hopes to leave on the best possible note, and that thought weighs heavily as their final days approach.

Senior Danica Flores shared what the sport has meant to her, saying, “Track to me has always been about the team, especially going into league for the last time and knowing this is the last time I get to have this experience with the team. I definitely will forever miss track. For it being such an individual sport, it has always felt like we are together as a team, even as a track family.”

No matter what happens during the remainder of the season, most athletes will be able to look back on their track careers with pride. They can see their progress in improved times, longer distances, and personal records. Each athlete has their own goals they are striving for, and as the season comes to a close, they continue pushing themselves to their limits.