Feb. 9, 2025
By Alexandra Ruiz
Staff Writer
Braving freezing temperatures and strong winds since official practices commenced on Dec. 2, the indoor track and field team began its competitive season at the Ramapo Outdoor Polar Bear Meet at Ramapo High School in Franklin Lakes on Dec. 13.
Head Coach Hykey, who has been coaching the team for three seasons, said the winter weather has been an obstacle for the team’s athletes.
“It has been a bit cooler and windy, so it is more challenging for them to stay focused and stay at their best,” Hykey said.
She said that, unlike other high school athletes, those on the indoor track and field team train outside but compete inside.
“[In] any other sport, you are training in the conditions you are playing in, so this sport is different,” Hykey said.
She said an advantage of indoor track and field is that each athlete can work toward individual goals.
“[I] try to always have the kids [enjoy] themselves [while] pushing them to limits that each of them [is] capable of,” Hykey said.
“I’m just going to have to keep pushing to keep breaking records.”
Junior Aidan Nogueira, who has been on varsity for three years, broke the school record in the two-mile race on Jan. 3 at the Tom Zaccone Invitational at Rockland Community College in Suffern, New York, with a time of 10:22.5.
The high school’s previous record in the two-mile race was set in 2018 by then-senior Andrew Ellis, who had a time of 10:48.
Now that he has broken this record, Nogueira said he is looking to perform well at state sectionals, which will take place on Feb. 15 at the Bennett Indoor Athletic Complex in Toms River.
“I’m just going to have to keep pushing to keep breaking records,” Nogueira said. “[I want] to compete well and make my coaches proud.”
As this season comes to a close, Nogueira said he is already thinking about next year.
“If I just keep running the way I am, I think I can be great for next season,” Nogueira said.
Sophomore Madison Mason said she was excited to return to the indoor track and field team after joining varsity last season.
“I tried every other sport, so I just tried running for the first time, and I loved it,” Mason said.
She said an achievement she is especially proud of was earning a bronze medal with a split time of 2:49 in the 4×800 meter relay at the Tom Zaccone Invitational.
“My teammates and I medal[ed] when we didn’t think we were going to,” Mason said. “This made us feel really good.”
Mason said she is working hard to improve her performance in competitions.
“This season is definitely more challenging [than the last] because I have higher expectations for myself,” Mason said. “[I want to] try my best for the team and never give up.”
