Rachel Carson students competed in the 2025 Spring FCPS Middle School Track and Field Championships at Robinson Secondary School on May 31 and placed 12th out of the 26 participating schools.
The events that took place at the meet included the 1600-meter, 100-meter (prelims), 400-meter, medal intermission, 100-meter (finals), 800-meter, 200-meter, medal intermission, 4 by 400-meter relay and finally the medal presentation. Shot Put and Long Jump occurred throughout the entirety of the track meet.
Roman Nall, 14, on the Wolves Team, was one of the eleven students who qualified for the Championship Meet and competed in the 400- and 1600-meter races.
Roman said that after he wins a heat, “it’s a relief.”
Mr. Mark Bolt, one of Carson’s track and field coaches, agreed with Roman.
“Part of life is … setting goals and achieving them,” Mr. Bolt said.
Mr. Roger Tiango, another coach for Carson’s track and field team, shared his favorite aspects about coaching track and field.
“Seeing the kids who celebrate their achievements,” he said.
Mr. Bolt added that improving times is a way that a runner can see their growth. By running in the correct form, fewer injuries will occur.
“We want to make sure you leave with a good foundation,” he said.
By attending the practices, students are able to have repetition of the correct running form to help apply this good foundation. In order to attend meets, students must have participated in at least three practices, which normally occurred on Mondays and Wednesdays throughout the track and field season.
Mr. Tiangco was proud of the students that showed “sticktoitiveness” and wanted to take part in the Carson team’s twice-weekly training sessions.
“The kids who return,” he said, “[they] come back to every practice.”
Mr. Bolt agreed that consistency is key and that showing up is a way to get more repetition.
According to ASICS, “regular training is key to lasting improvements.”
In addition to attending practices, athletes were required to meet or exceed the following event-specific time requirements for the Spring track and field season.
- 100-meter dash/sprint (female: 15.0 seconds, male: 13.5 seconds)
- 200-meter dash/sprint (female: 31.0 seconds, male: 27.0 seconds)
- 400-meter dash/sprint (female: 1:14, male: 1:03)
- 800-meter run (female: 2:55, male: 2:37)
- 1600-meter run (female: 6:15, male: 5:41)
- Long Jump (female: 11’6”, male: 13’8”)
- Shot Put (female: 20’0”, male: 31’0”)
Another tip from ASICS is to visualize “yourself achieving your speed goals, whether it’s conquering a race or setting a personal best in training.”
Roman followed some of these techniques before a meet.
“Mentally, I like to close my eyes and breathe,” he said.
There are highlights of both coaching the track and field team and the sportsmanship demonstrated on behalf of the runners.
Mr. Bolt said that his favorite part about the meets was the camaraderie among the students.
“Even the kid in last place, everyone is cheering them on,” he said.
Elodie Moreau, 13, on the Trailblazers Team, agreed with Mr. Bolt.
“Everybody cheering each other on … makes it feel positive,” she said.
Mr. Tiangco said that a highlight about being a track and field coach was seeing students “who feel good about themselves, seeking success.”
Elodie said that team spirit at a meet was beneficial.
She said that it “makes me do my best.”
Mr. Bolt shared the positivity that comes with the track and field program, as well as the meets.
“They are open to anyone and everyone, that’s the beauty of it,” he said.
Mr. Bolt’s advice for students looking to join track and field include “focusing on the mechanics and form.”
Mechanics, to include posture and form, are important for improving an athlete’s running time. ASICS said that to maintain speed and conserve energy, “focus on posture, stride length, and foot stride.”
“If you focus on that piece of the puzzle, speed will come naturally,” Mr. Bolt said.
Mr. Tiangco added that standing tall is also a way to help running times.
According to Training Peaks, “No one makes it to the top without overcoming obstacles that would push most people to quit.”
Competitiveness kept Elodie going, even when things got hard.
Mr. Bolt shared his thoughts on mental challenges runners face.
“One thing I think runners are experiencing a lot is your brain telling you to stop,” he said.
Mr. Bolt said that it is important to resist the urge to give into your thoughts: “I’m not stopping. I keep going.”
Mr. Bolt was interested in becoming a track and field coach because of the impact it has on students.
“What made me interested was giving kids a taste of what’s coming in high school,” said Mr. Bolt.
He also thinks that staying active helps.
“At the end of the day … I just want kids to have an active lifestyle,” Mr. Bolt said
Elodie agreed and said that the track and field program benefited her.
“Helped me stay healthy when I’m not doing another sport,” she said.
A quote from Training Peaks sums it up this way: “It is that mental determination and the ability to endure that makes the difference between success and failure.”
