The Student News Site of Mission Hills High School

The Silvertip

The Student News Site of Mission Hills High School

The Silvertip

The Student News Site of Mission Hills High School

The Silvertip

Track Students Orchestrate Student-Led Practices

Students+practice+their+block+starts+for+the+upcoming+season.
Photo by Joel Ras
Students practice their “block” starts for the upcoming season.

Spring sports are just around the corner now that Winter sports are in full swing at Mission Hills. One sport in particular that is beginning soon is Track and Field. A new track coach, Hector Menchaca, organizes after-school practices to prepare for the upcoming Track season in just a few months. Although Coach Menchaca manages these practices, they are primarily student-led by track returners.
Senior track star Ivan Huerta, a 110m and 300m Hurdler, shares the importance of these practices.
“The purpose of these practices is to condition us for the spring season. If we entered the season with limited training, it would be extremely hard for us to acclimate and adjust to the intensity of the season,” said Huerta.
The athletes start their practices with 45 minutes of stretching and aerobic exercises. Once Coach Menchaca arrives, they begin their workout. When later asked how these practices have impacted him, Huerta responded thoughtfully.
“These practices have impacted me in good ways. They not only conditioned me and made me physically fit, but they also made me mentally fit. It taught me that time management is crucial to being productive.” said Huerta.

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About the Contributor
Joel Ras
Joel Ras, Staff Writer
Joel Ras is a Senior who loves to run and hangout with his friends. He is the captain of the Cross-Country team along with being a captain on the Track and Field team. He is the League Champion in Cross-Country and took part in the Track and Field team becoming League Champions. Joel is also an Explorer for the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. At the San Diego County Law Enforcement Explorer Advisor’s Association Summer Academy, Joel earned the Male PT award. While transitioning into silvertip, Joel hopes to use these achievements to help promote silvertip amongst his peers, emphasizing that you gain valuable experiences when doing something out of your comfort zone.