This Friday and Saturday, the AHS track team will be attending two meets. On Friday Dec. 21st, JV will compete at Thomas Jefferson Community Center in Arlington. Then on Saturday, varsity will attend a meet Prince George’s Sports and Learning complex in Landover, MD.
The AHS track team has been working hard for the past few weeks at practice, as they try to get the best score, pace and lodge. Before starting the holiday break, the team will participate for the last meet of the year.
The team is anticipating the meets. “This Friday, I’m running the 1000 meter,” said sophomore Yonathan Ayele. “I like the 1000m because it isn’t too long, but it isn’t short enough to be a hard sprint the whole time. I think the sprinters for Annandale will do well, because we have so many fast sprinters. For distance, I think we may do well, but we’ll have a lot of competition that’s about as good as us, if not better.”
“I will be running the 1000 meter this Saturday.” said junior Cynthia Weiner. “I’m going to try my best, but it’s only my second time running this race and I’m still trying to learn how to pace it right. I think that Annandale will do well with all of the talent in all the different races.”
On Friday, Annandale will be competing with local school such as Centerville and Oakton. On Saturday, Annandale will be competing against school from VA, MD, and DC.
“We are running the 500m, 1,000m 1600m and the 3200m. This Friday is a meet for our JV runners / developmental squad. It gives our young up and coming runners great race experience and a place for them to compete.” Said long distance coach, David O’Hara. “Saturday’s meet is for our varsity runners that will be competing at districts later this season. It is the best of the best as far as competition goes with runners coming from VA, DC and MD. Some teams even come down from PA.”
Coach O’Hara had been prepping his runners for the meet with light workouts such as long jogs and will “fight like wild dogs and race their hearts out from the time the gun goes off to we cross the finish line” the day of the race.
Coach O’Hara is really confident that his team and Annandale will do well at the meets. “For my athletes, I believe that we will have a very strong showing in the two mile with Eric Lien, Risky Alvarado, and Gabe Lajnef. All three of these guys are really on the cusp of being varsity runners. We will also have Ibrahim Quiroz running the 1000m. He is just a freshman like Risky Alvarado and has tone of talent. Ayah Oweis will be competing in 1600m and the team is looking for a big personal best for her. Cynthia Weiner will be running the 1000m. She is new to track and improving every day. Draven Pike and Aviad Gebrehiwot will be running the 1600m. Both are top district runners and are looking to post fast times. The team looks to these two to make it to the regional competition following districts. Salvattore Ames and Robert Lamb will both be running the 3200m. Coming off of great cross-country seasons these two guys look to battle with the best that VA, DC, and MD have to offer!”
“The greatest competition is the runners themselves. As long as they try their best, the coach is then satisfied whether they win or not. “
Show support to the AHS track team by wishing them luck on the race!