When campus cleared out and the lingering commotion of students slowly settled, the track stirred to life as anxious runners awaited the starting gun of the 1500 meter race to fire. 

The Twilight Meet has become tradition for the Track and Field athletes. Last Thursday, Graded athletes competed among themselves in a communal event focused more on individual efforts than traditional competition. At first glance it may seem pointless to hold an event without other teams present. After all, don’t athletes thrive most when facing fierce opposition? But when you look closely, you’ll come to the realization that the meet has its own kind of intensity: a sense of determination that seems to grow with every throw, jump, and stride.

As night neared, the meet seemed to reach its climax. Sprinters got their spikes ready, and, in some cases, quite literally threw themselves across the finish line just for the mere sake of giving it their all. Meanwhile, jumpers seemed to completely infatuate those around them, commanding attention as they pushed beyond their own limits. It was honestly a sight to behold.

In the end, no awards were handed out. It became clear that what drove each individual athlete to put their best efforts out there had zero correlation to the medals they could receive or how many people they would finish ahead of. Instead, it was actually a matter of challenging themselves, which is exactly where the competition stemmed from.

None of this, however, would have been possible if it were not for the sense of unwavering support coming from the crowd. Cheers from parents, athletes, and teachers, watching from the bleachers erupted as events continuously unfolded. The cheers propelled the athletes forward, giving them this sense of unshakable strength, and ultimately, it was what kept them going. Needless to say, it is this overwhelming sense of encouragement that encapsulates what it means to be in the Track and Field community perfectly. Track is an honest sport , and it does wonders in uniting incredibly different people through a sense of collective perseverance; it creates a safe environment for athletes to push themselves out of their comfort zones and take risks they otherwise wouldn’t, to uncover what they’re capable of. This event served as a prime example of this. 

Despite numerous calls with flying discuses along with an afternoon of frantic running, anyone there could tell you the Twilight Meet was incredibly special. It paved the way for new personal bests, a renewed sense of determination, and a truthfully remarkable start to the season.