Here at Winthrop High we have a lot of talented and successful sports teams. The season of winter sports is currently in its prime, but one team’s season is nearing its end. Winthrop High School’s indoor track team has had a very productive and influential season. During this difficult season, they were able to beat four teams. With the season coming to a close we wanted to catch up with some of the coaches and athletes to see how they felt about this season. I asked questions to John Rice, Cori Powell, and Miss Irvine. 

I first asked questions to John Rice, a junior on the track team: 

Zoe: When did you join indoor track?

John: I joined indoor track my freshman year. 

Z: How do you think the indoor track season has gone so far?

J: We may not have always won the meets but we grow closer as a team all the time, and that is what is most important.  

Z: Have you made any progress/accomplishments during this season that you are proud of?

J: I feel like I have been able to become a more encouraging, supporting person through indoor track. 

Z:Do you like the dynamic you and your team share?

J: Yes. At first we were not super close, but as the season progressed, we learned a lot from each other and how to communicate with one another.  

Z: Do you have any favorite memories from this season?

J:  Definitely just going to practices and being able to joke around and bond with the team. 

Z: Are there any coaches you would like to shout out?

J: Irvine, she has a lot of passion and although she might not have a lot of experience, she is a very great coach. 

Z: In your opinion which was the best meet? 

J: I’d say our first meet was our best, both the boys and the girls team won. 

Next, I asked questions to Cori Powell, another junior on the track team: 

Zoe: When did you join indoor track?

Cori: I joined indoor track my freshman year, unfortunately was not able to do it sophomore year, and then joined against this year. 

Z: How do you think the indoor track season has gone so far?

C:  I think this season has been going pretty well so far. We knew we weren’t going to win against some teams, but we did end up winning some meets, and some teammates are even going to the NEC where they could qualify for states. 

Z: Have you made any progress/accomplishments during this season that you are proud of?

C: I made my personal record in the 600.  I am also on the 4 by 4 and we are really close to qualifying for states. 

Z:Do you like the dynamic you and your team share?

C: I think the dynamic is really different than normal because the boys and girls team are now together.  We are all very close and I think we have a better dynamic now. 

Z: Do you have any favorite memories from this season?

C: My favorite memory from the track season was getting Miss Irvine to coach. She has been an incredible addition. 

Z: Are there any coaches you would like to shout out?

C: I would like to shout out Couch Mac. He has been a great coach for many years. It is his first year in a while doing indoor track and I think he is handling the challenges really well. 

Z: In your opinion which was the best meet? 

C: Personally the fourth meet, the one at Reggie Lewis, was my personal best. However the team overall did the best against Saugus and Salem because we were able to beat them. 

Finally we caught up with Miss Irvine, a coach for the Winthrop track team: 

Zoe: When did you start coaching indoor track?

Miss Irvine: I just started this past season! The team needed an assistant coach, and I love running, so I figured “Why not?”  It has been an incredible experience so far.

Z: How do you think the indoor track season has gone so far?

Miss I.: This season has gone really well! A lot of our athletes haven’t competed inside since before March 2020, so there were certainly some obstacles. However, the team has showed up and stepped up like no other. Because of that, I think it’s been a great season.

Z:Do you like the dynamic you and your team share?

Miss I.: I truly do love the team’s dynamic. The boys and girls practice together and are all friends, and all the coaches are close, so it makes the experience incredibly fun. We have a mix of both newer and more seasoned runners, but you would never know that they haven’t all been together from the start. Everyone supports each other and cheers each other on…It’s refreshing to be a part of such a close team. My favorite part is how well we balance work and fun. The runners are willing to put in the work, sweat and time, AND they have no problem joking around and keeping each other humble. It’s a great vibe to have.

Z: Do you have any favorite memories from this season?

Miss I.: I have so many favorite memories, it’s hard to choose just one! Watching some of the new girls nail high jump for the first time, running stairs with the team at my first practice, “fun Fridays”, cheering the team on at meets…the list goes on and on. 

Z: Are there any coaches or students you would like to shout out?

Miss I.: If I could, I would shout out everyone individually! BIG shout out to Coach MacPhail and Coach Beshere for helping me adjust to this new experience, and just generally being the best.  Thanks to our amazing captains and athletes for working harder than I ever could have expected and making me part of the team immediately…and a very special shout out to our SENIORS for an incredible last season!

Z: In your opinion which was the best meet? 

Miss I.: Hopefully, our best meet is coming on Sunday Feb. 6…at NECs! Besides that, I truly think all other meets went well. Whether we won or lost, we stood together as a team and cheered each other on through all hurdles (pun intended). What more could you want?

Thank you to John, Cori, and Miss Irvine for catching up with me about their track season! Make sure to congratulate them on their successful season if you see them, and attend any of the meets you can! They are putting their all into this sport so we all hope to see you supporting our Winthrop Track Team as much as you can!