As a new season arises for the Cavers, Track and Field athletes prepare for their new season with higher expectations for this year and plan on setting new personal bests. Members of San Diego High say they’re focusing on improving their times through increased training, better technique and form, and a much more focused mentality. Despite having fewer athletes to compete compared to last season, runners, jumpers, and throwers remain optimistic about the team’s potential and their ability to compete at a high level.
Cavers across multiple events are already setting their own short term and long term goals for the season. Jaden Johnson, a member of the class of 2027, competes in shot put and the 4×100 relay. Said preparation this year has been more serious than in previous seasons, especially with athletes committing more time to training due to the lack of participants.
Johnson’s main focus is improving his distance in shot put. Last season, his personal record reached 44 feet, but he hopes to push that mark further this year.
“I want to reach a 48,” Johnson said. “I’m slowly climbing up to that, especially since I’m lifting more this year and focusing on my technique.”
Meanwhile, sprinter Kevin Shields, a football player and track star is focusing on improving his times in several sprint events. Especially after Shields MCL Tear, Shields is looking for an incredible bounce back season. Shield runs the 100-meter dash, long jump, and the 4×100 relay. His current time in the 100 meters is 11.3 seconds, and he has jumped 20 feet, two inches in long jump. He is looking to improve in these events to hopefully get the chance to compete in the CIF Finals track meet.
Both athletes say the training, workouts, and practices have become more structured this season. According to Shields, the team has emphasized speed training, endurance workouts, and stronger group practices to help athletes perform better throughout meets.
“As a team, we’re doing more workouts together and working on speed and endurance,” Shields said. “We want to be able to finish our meets strong.”
The 4×100 relay remains one of the most exciting events for the cavers as Last season the relay squad ran a time in the low 42-second range, setting an incredible standard and expectations for this year’s group. Although the team lineup has changed, runners are eager to see how the new group performs and if they are able to beat last season’s time with new runners.
Track athletes measure success through personal records and meet placements. For Johnson, improving his shot-put distance by four feet would be an important milestone for Johnson. For Shields, even getting faster and seeing results like shaving fractions of a second off his sprint time could make a significant difference in competitive races.
Shields said his biggest motivation this season is proving himself during important competitions. And proving to himself that he can still run like he used to and not have a crazy comeback.“I just want to shorten my time and show everybody why I shouldn’t be doubted,” he said.
Johnson also shared what makes his events enjoyable.“The 4×100 is fun because it’s quick and you get to see the handoffs and how close the race can be,” Johnson said. “Throwing is more individual, but the throwing group has a great community.”
Coaches and athletes emphasize that having an early start to their season’s preparation plays a major role in long-term success. Strong conditioning and teamwork can help The Cavers remain competitive throughout invitationals and championship meets.
As the season begins, both Johnson and Shields believe the team still has room to improve but remains confident in its preparation. With dedicated training and personal motivation, the athletes look forward that their hard work will translate into faster times, longer throws, and strong performances in all events throughout this season.
