The spring season is approaching, meaning that Track & Field is upon us. At the start of the season, all participating athletes will run in a rustbuster meet. Nearly every year, distance runners partake in Distance Wars, their first meet of the season. In this meet, the events consist of the 4x800m, 800m, 1600m, 3200m, Distance Medley Relay, Shot Put, and Pole Vault. It is called Distance Wars as this meet only consists of distance events, but uniquely this year, they have a few field events. 

Distance Wars always feels special for distance runners. It’s the one meet where they have the spotlight. In normal track meets, these runners, especially 3200m, get neglected and some people say that distance events feel like breaks in between the “important” events. Little do those people know the amount of work and dedication it takes for these athletes to get recognized. Adrian Andrade, a senior and distance runner for the Huskies Track & Field team, said, “I feel like a lot of the sprinters or field event people often dread the idea of running more than a lap for a workout while the distance runners are running multiple in just one rep. The people who run distance are no doubt way more physically fit than any other because of how much grinding one needs to do just to be decent at running any event over an 800m. I’m glad that distance wars is a thing because it gives those who have been working tirelessly for months or even years the chance to have a spotlight and gives them the attention that they deserve at a track meet.” As you can see, this means a lot to these athletes. They get the chance to perform after all the hard work in preseason training. 

This also happens to be a plus for those who had to play a winter sport. If someone had barely gotten back from another sport like soccer, basketball, wrestling, etc., they get the chance to check in on their fitness and treat the meet as a workout to get back into peak shape and hopefully faster than years prior.

Fortunately for those non-distance athletes, they have an Invitational Rustbuster that they can participate in, the day after Distance Wars. So there is no worry for them as they will have the same opportunity to have a great season opener. Distance Wars is on Friday, February 28th, starting at 1:30pm for field events and 2:00pm for track at Hughson High’s stadium. Show up and support!