The sound of spikes hitting the track echoes through the indoor arena as Foran athletes round tight corners and push themselves with every lap. Indoor track is a test of speed, endurance, and mental toughness, where long hours of training and practice pay off.
From afternoon practices to nail-biting finishes, every runner truly learns what it takes to chase personal bests and support their team.
For many high school athletes, indoor track is more than meets and medals; it’s a commitment that affects each athlete’s daily life. Balancing schoolwork, practices, and competitions can be exhausting during the winter season, and it teaches athletes how to adapt. Practices are often intense and repetitive, but they build discipline, teamwork, and resilience that extend far beyond the track.
Track coach Mr. James Chiappetta says that the best athletes on the team are “somebody who shows up to practice every day and buys into the mentality of the team.”
This goes to show that track goes beyond just being the fastest and most athletic; it also seeks a strong mentality from those who choose to do it.
Despite how powerful the team is, some weaknesses are naturally present, but they’re not overlooked. Every practice, the team works hard to improve their strengths, endurance, and speed with the assistance of their supporting coaches.
One challenge that the team faces is the inability to use the outdoors during the cold winter season. To combat this, their practices consist of running in the hallways and conditioning in the fitness room. Additionally, many students work out in their own time to improve performance.
Sophomore runner, Justin Morton, who runs the 55m, 300m, and 4×2, identifies one of the struggles the team is going through, explaining, “The team is working on communication and trying to push each other to stay disciplined for better team and personal results.”
Morton’s words highlight something important: success in indoor track is not an individual achievement alone. Every relay exchange, every cheer from the sidelines, and every encouraging word during a tough workout contribute to the team’s overall performance.
With the season coming to an end in late February, the Foran indoor track team is looking forward to next season and remains focused on growth. Personal records are celebrated, but improvement and effort are valued even more. Each meet is another opportunity to prove that hard work in practice translates into results on race day.
The success that the team has seen this season has also been fueled by the performances of standout athletes. Sophomore distance runner Maria Azpiri-Sudusky has made history by breaking five indoor track school records, with times ranging from the 600-meter to the 3200-meter. Her versatility across middle and long-distance events has made her one of the team’s most valuable competitors and a constant source of points at meets. This year, junior sprinter and distance runner Daniel Orozco has made significant strides in his three events: 55m, 300m, and 4×2. Orozco’s progress toward becoming the best runner possible has made him a vital part of the team’s chemistry with his impressive personal bests:
7.08 (55m) and 37.44 (300m).
These individual achievements not only highlight talent, but they also show the hard work happening behind the scenes every day at practice. More than anything, “the indoor track team showed great unity and determination, finishing stronger together this season,” explained Morton.
