Blazing heat reflecting against the bright red track, track bags and tents filling up the infield, the crowd rushing in, and a smell of smoldering hot, hot dogs from the concessions. Junior long-distance runner, Maddy Qian, is a mix of nerves but buzzed with excitement underneath the home tent, priming up for her highly anticipated race at the Henle Holmes home meet.
“To me, this is always my favorite meet of the season. We get a huge crowd out here. It’s so much fun. There are so many teams, it’s hype,” Qian said.
Not only is this the biggest track meet in Parkway, but also the 50th anniversary of Henle Holmes. Grace Sieber, a senior sprinter, who will run for Wheaton College next year, recalls the days at this meet throughout her high-school years.
“This meet is really important to me, because it’s at home, so it’s our school being represented. Plus, it has a lot of old traditions, like the DMR and the 4×400 mixed relay. I’m so glad that we’re still doing it,” Sieber said.
While most meets stick to the standard relays, Henle Homes has kept this long-established event alive: The DMR. The Distance Medley Relay is a true test of the team’s depth and balance, a blend of speed, endurance, and sportsmanship. Four runners, all running a different distance. Starting with the 1200, 400, 600, then lastly 1600.
Qian and Sieber are also a part of the Girls Distance Medley Relay. Qian is running the 1200 with Sieber following her performance in the 400.
While Qian is warming up, she thinks through her strategy and stays calm.
“I don’t really know if I have a goal time for the 1200, as it’s not an actual race, but I know I’m thinking, I want to start kicking it up around with 400 to go, I did this leg of the DMR last year. So I’m feeling good about it,” Qian said. “ I always like running 1200s in practice, like when we do them in workouts. So I’m excited for it. It’s not that different from an 800, I’d say, just an extra lap.”
Sieber, unlike Qian, is a little more anxious before the race, but is getting psyched and pumping herself up with affirmations.
“My biggest focus is probably knowing how to wait, in the relay, and have the best handoff, we’ve been working on speed, and learning how to finish hard in practice, It’s a little scary and nerve racking, so I would say it’s not my favorite, But I do love relays, so it will hopefully be worth it,” Sieber said. “I like to tell myself I feel good, I feel wonderful, I feel great.”
Looking forward to a new and fulfilling year, Qian welcomes more runners and talent.
“Join track and field. We really do have so much fun over here, and you never know, you could be running in one of these relays at Henle Holmes. We carry Parkway Central sports,” Qian said.
