As the season goes from fall to winter, many of Eastern’s cross country athletes prepare to transition into winter track. Even though many of the athletes may be looking forward to the spring track season, they are not looking to pass on the opportunities that the winter track season holds.

   This season is experiencing new changes from past years. One of the major changes, 4 year veteran track senior, Jacob Harley notices is the increase in interest over the four years he has run for Eastern. He states, “I believe that there are a lot more people interested in running track than before, and I feel the sport is growing in size.”

   The increase in popularity of the sport not only means a brighter future but also adds more competition to practices; it helps keep everyone improving and staying in shape.

   While Jacob Harley notices an increase in interest, Alex Andrews notices a change in the way the team is managed. Alex Andrews is a junior track star who started running in the winter season of his freshman year. What Alex Andrews cites as the major change this year, specifically, is the manner in which the warm up routine is run.

   Before the change, all the athletes (sprinters, distance runners, throwers, and jumpers) would all stretch separately. Now, everyone stretches together and this alters team unity. Alex Andrews comments on this by stating, “I believe it helps bring the team closer together.”

   While many may view who you stretch with as a miniscule part of any sport, this new style of warming up will, hopefully, positively change the performance of all the branches of the winter track team.

   While the future looks bright with an increase of participation for winter track and the improvement of team unity through the warm up routine, the team is looking forward to winning meets this season before looking into the future.