The Grace Track team won the NYCAL league this spring, placing first among eight NYC private schools. They fielded 62 runners, making it the largest team in Grace history. So what\u2019s their secret to their speed and size? We chatted with Grace runners-and a few local competitors to find out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One rival runner who has noticed Grace\u2019s rise is Aiden C. \u201828 of Avenues The World School, a first-year sprinter who competed against several of the same athletes throughout the season. He stated that, \u201cWhile we don\u2019t compete in the same league [as Grace], the team looks pretty good. Even though they were all stuffing their faces with ice cream, their sprinters might have been faster than ours\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aiden\u2019s subtle insult, along with his compliment to our prolific sprinters, puzzled Edin C. \u201928. \u201cIn general, with any track team, they can do anything and train any way they wish. In the end, all that matters is what happens at the meets. We will see them at NYSAIS\u201d (New York State Association of Independent Schools). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But beyond the wins and fast times, Grace runners believe their biggest strength lies in the team’s personality and chemistry. Taylor G. \u201828 agrees that, \u201cEven though we put in hard work, we still have fun as a team. The fact that other people can comment on our practices further proves my point.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both Taylor and Edin acknowledge that the team’s culture of balancing hard work with enjoyment is not only visible to outsiders but is ultimately what fuels their competitive drive, and when NYSAIS arrives, the results will speak for themselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As rivalries heat up across the city, even runners from outside the NYCAL have started paying attention to Grace\u2019s rise. James K. \u201828, a runner at The Ethical Culture Fieldston School, has been running since fourth grade. While he admitted that he didn\u2019t know much, he shared that \u201cwhen I go to practice on my own at Riverbank State Park, I always see the junior with blonde curly hair and flashy sunglasses. He\u2019s good, but I think I could take him in the 100\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That junior is none other than Oscar P. \u201827, and he has plenty to say in return. \u201cI see him all the time, but I don\u2019t know his name. He looks good in training, and I have seen his [track] times at the Ivy League meets, which are slower than mine. If I were able to compete in the Ivy League, I know I\u2019d beat him.\u201d Oscar\u2019s confidence comes as no surprise. It mirrors the attitude of a Grace team that has spent the entire season backing up their words with results. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Grace Track, the mission next year is simple: defend the title. With returning stars, rising underclassmen, and a team culture built on both competition and fun, the program shows no signs of slowing down. The pressure will only increase as rival schools chase the NYCAL champions, but Grace runners seem ready for the challenge.
Julien E. \u201828 is a staff writer for<\/em> The Grace Gazette and Leader of Athletics for All<\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"