by Brenden Morrow ’27
The beginning of the annual Track and Field season means a brand a new opportunity for runners, hurdlers, and throwers alike. It’s a sport that demands the best of athletes’ persistence, focus, and determination, and often entails early morning practices and runs that extend late into the night. In the most recent KBELL meet, Bells demonstrated their ability to bring their skills to the track, maintaining a supportive attitude towards their teammates despite competing individually, and achieving fantastic results. This week, we interviewed two such runners, Ishan Routray, a freshman, and Reed Bodnar-Cohen, a senior, who both share their experience and passion for the sport, as well as their ambitions for whatever this season might bring.
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Ishan Routray ’27 – Freshman Track Runner
Q: How has the start of the Track season been for you?
A: It’s been good! I’m really starting to find out how to maintain proper form, getting in touch with coaches and other athletes, and making the most out of the start of the season.
Q: What motivates you to come to the track every day?
A: The drive to get better pushes me to go to the track every day. There’s always room to improve, and I simply can’t do that by skipping practice. My friends also keep my head up when I’m feeling down.
Q: How long have you been doing track?
A: I’ve been doing Track for 2 years now competitively, and now that I’m at Bellarmine, I look forward to continuing.
Q: Do you have any goals for this season?
A: I want to get under the 12-second mark, as I’m barely over 12 in the 100-meter dash for time trials. I also want to work on form and block starts because it’s essential for getting more speed. I hope to qualify as the top 6 frosh/sophomore in the meets.
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Reed Bodnar-Cohen ’24 – Varsity Track Runner
Q: How has the start of the track season been for you?
A: It’s been great to connect with the team and help each other build a community that can set up a positive environment for the season. It hasn’t been too tough getting back into it, because I’ve been training off-season.
Q: How long have you been doing track?
A: I’ve been doing track since 7th grade when my middle school first introduced it. Then Covid stopped practices for a year, but I’ve been running through that and consistently hitting the track since then.
Q: Do you have any big goals for this season?
A: My goal is to break 4:30 in the mile and break 10 in the 2-mile.
Q: Are you looking forward to any big meets coming up?
A: I’m most looking forward to the Dublin Meet at Dublin High School, one of the most competitive of the ones coming up.
Q: Do you have advice for new runners who may want to follow in your footsteps?
A: I encourage new runners to stick with the sport, be consistent, and stay committed even when it seems like you are in a slump or not improving. If you put in the work and focus on the little things, whether that improving your form or conditioning, improved times will take care of themselves, and you will enjoy your time a lot more.
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The Bell Online wishes safe travels to all our runners who are competing at Willow Glen and Dublin Distance Fiesta this weekend, and to all those preparing for meets in upcoming weeks. Good luck in your events, Bells!