My Journey Through Track and Field
By: Hailey Brinks
Track has been a major part of my life for the past seven years— technically six. My seventh-grade season was canceled due to COVID-19, but despite that setback, track has been a constant force shaping who I am today. It’s been a journey full of high points and low moments, but one that taught me resilience, adaptability, and self-discovery.
I started track in middle school, and from the beginning, I felt like I belonged. I was competing in the first heats, running alongside eighth graders, and feeling confident in my abilities. That early success lit a fire in me—I realized I was good at something, and I carried that belief with me into high school. I was determined to continue, and I did—four full years on the high school track team.
Freshman and sophomore years were strong. I excelled in events like the 200, 4×100, 4×200, and high jump. My times were solid, and I felt on top of my game. But then came junior year, and things changed. My times in the 200 dropped from 27 seconds to over 30. It was discouraging, especially seeing times I hadn’t run since early freshman year, becoming my new normal. The lack of improvement started to eat away at my motivation. Practices became harder to attend, and I questioned whether I even had a place on the team anymore.
During that difficult year, I dabbled in discus but didn’t take it too seriously. I was mostly thrown into events when the team needed someone to fill a spot. Then senior year came around, and my coach told me to focus on shot put and discus. It felt like a quiet way of saying I wasn’t a runner anymore. At first, that hurt. But surprisingly, I discovered I had a real talent for throwing. I worked hard, and by the end of the season, I had made major progress—my record for shot put hit 29’5”, and my discus throw climbed from the 70s to 83’9” feet.
That growth meant everything. I realized I still had a purpose on the team. I wasn’t the same runner I used to be, but I was still an athlete. I built new friendships among the throwers and found a new sense of belonging. I even got to run the 4×400 once, which was unexpected but a fun reminder of where I started.
Now that I’m finishing high school, I know my time with track is coming to an end since I’m not going to college. It’s a bittersweet feeling—ending on a high note with personal records in both of my events, but knowing I won’t get to continue this journey in college. Still, I’m proud of everything I accomplished and how far I’ve come.
What kept me motivated through all the ups and downs was rediscovering my purpose. Even when I felt like I had nothing left to give, I found out I could succeed in new ways. Track taught me that you don’t have to be perfect or even great at the start. You don’t even have to try out. You just have to show up, be open to learning, and keep pushing through. That’s what inspired me—the fact that there was always a place for me, even when things didn’t go as planned.
Track isn’t just a sport. It’s a community, a support system, and a space where you grow—not just as an athlete, but as a person. I’ll always be grateful for the lessons, the friends, and the journey. And I’ll carry the strength I found in myself through all the years ahead.