Photo Courtesy of Preprunningnerd
The Hastings boys track team opens the season with a positive family mentality after losing many runners in the 2024-2025 class. The transition into the season has come from the team training through the winter and maintaining their conditioning.
The offseason commitment has helped build a strong sense of unity among the team, with both returning runners and newcomers finding their place within the group. The team’s chemistry has become a key factor in creating a supportive and competitive environment as the season begins.
“We have a good team chemistry,” junior Carlos Gutierrez said. “We enjoy the season together while also pushing and encouraging each other every day.”
For some of the team, the first couple meets have given them a baseline to know where they stand.
“The season started a month ago and we have had a couple meets,” Gutierrez said. “We are just focusing on doing our best and getting as fast as we can.”
The Tigers previously had now Wichita State runner, Austin Carrera, who competed in the one and two mile, and was a part of the teams 4×800 meter relay. The team last year also had seven boys qualify for the NSAA State Track and Field meet.
“Losing such a talented class has forced the team to adapt to running races we might have not ran last season, but we are all willing to run wherever runners are needed” Gutierrez said.
The varsity team competed at the UNK indoor meet twice, as well as traveled to North Platte. They scored 10th place as a team when at North Platte this past week.
“We just want to focus on placing at as many meets as possible, which brings the team the most success,” Gutierrez said.
Aside from running on the track, the boys have a wide variety working on the field side.
Christian Beasley, a returning junior, has been competing at various meets at the Varsity level as a discus and shot thrower. At the North Platte meet, he set personal records in both events.
“My favorite event to compete in is discus,” Beasley said. “There are so many mechanical things to think about, and it takes a lot of practice.”
Beasley expressed that practice in the offseason has prepared the team for the challenges they face during their competitive meets.
“I have gotten way stronger this year,” Beasley said. “My form has also slowly improved, which has given me better outcomes during competitions.”
As the district meet approaches, the team will continue to focus on hard work and trust in their conditioning to carry them through the rest of this season.
“We are excited for the remainder of the season,” Gutierrez said. “We are going to keep working hard and putting in miles to see where that takes us when we get to districts.”
