Track and field sprint into 2017 season

Although their official spring season is about to commence, Samo’s track and field team has already been hard at work. The first home races took place Thur. March 9, against Beverly Hills High School and displayed all the work the team has put in.Under head coach Tania Fischer, the boys team has achieved nine league titles and, over her 20 years of coaching at Samo, has given the team a new level of exceptionalism that she hopes to continue this year.Fischer’s goal for the team this year is for everyone to become a leader. She wants the whole team, especially the younger athletes, to step up and become leaders for next year.“We have a very young team this year, primarily made up of freshmen and sophomores,” Fischer said.According to Kayla Palleiko (’17), the Samo track team is all about dedication and everything is based on times but it doesn’t make someone an athlete.  Palleiko continues that being an athlete on Samo track and field means more than being able to push through what people don’t see and perform your best at the track meets, but also being able able to “commit yourself.”Reece Pecaoco (’18) says track has been the greatest experience of his life.“It has changed my life since my freshmen year. Even though the practices are hard, the track meets are fun,” Pecaoco said.With practices running Monday through Friday after school for about two hours a day, track and filed is no walk through the park.“It’s extremely difficult and you’ll often see your teammates throwing up during the workouts,” Palleiko said.Even though the pain they have to face is great, Palleiko still says it is all worth it.“It’s all worthwhile, because when you cross that finish line after passing someone or hitting a personal record, you’re proud,” Palleiko said.