Athlete Contribution - Jaden Brockel

Below is a post contributed by senior track athlete Jaden Brockel.

Well here we are, May 15^th already. It seems like yesterday we were starting what Mr. McClain calls the “Dog Days of Track”. It’s crazy how fast time flies when you are having fun. Coach put out the challenge again this year for someone to write on the SBA blog spot. I figured since no one has taken him up on the offer in the past, and I’m the lone senior this year, I will blog some of my thoughts about track. I have been running track for Mr. McClain since 7^th grade. Every year I look forward to it because of his fun coaching style. Practice isn’t torture (Even though sometimes it feels like it). It’s a time of growth both physically and spiritually. Coach doesn’t just focus on the physical aspect of track; getting us into the best shape possible. He also focuses on the spiritual aspect of it too. He wants us to grow in our faith, but he also makes sure we realize that it’s not just SBA that we are representing. Our biggest representation should be our Lord and Savior. Track is the most mental sport I have ever participated in. Yes, track is all about who can run faster and farther than the other person, but there is way more to it than that. There is a constant battle going on between you and your body the entire time you are running. Your body is telling you to stop whatever you are doing, while you are telling yourself you can keep going; not just keep going but pushing yourself harder than you ever have before when you don’t have anything left to give.

We are approaching the end of the season fast. This year has been the most unusual season I have been a part of. SBA usually has, what seems like, 100 guys out for track. This season we have 11 guys. Even though the numbers are down, we still perform like we have 100 guys. There have been some guys who have really stepped up this year. They saw the need, and they have filled it well. We have had some great performances this year by numerous guys. Don’t get me wrong, we haven’t had all amazing performances though. There were days when we didn’t run our best times and it was disappointing to us and coach. But the thing that I had to understand was disappointment helps lead to success. Once we disappoint ourselves, it develops that passion in us to work and train harder than ever before so that we succeed. As we approach Regions and even the State meet in a few weeks, it is time for us guys to train harder than ever before. We have had some very close finishes this year in relays with some teams and we expect to see them again real soon; this time hopefully with a different outcome. What I believe it’s going to come down to these next few weeks are three things: who is going to be more focused, who wants it more, and who is going to train harder. Some teams lose focus going into Regions and State because they check out once school is over. Our team needs to buckle down and stay focused even though everyone else is out of school and starting their summers already. Some teams change their priorities going into the last few meets of the season. They want summer to start now so they put other things before track. They truly don’t want it. Our team is hungry for victory. It’s a great feeling to win, but we need to keep our priorities straight until track ends. We have one job and that is to go into these last meets and give it our all. We need to leave it all on the track. We need to ask ourselves, “How bad do we want it?” Why put in all that hard work throughout the year only to mix our priorities up in the end and give up. It’s like the story that Mr. McClain always tells us about the girl who gave up meters before the finish line at the State Track meet which resulted in her not making the podium. We have worked too hard to just give it all up in the end. There are teams out there that think they don’t have to work hard to reap the benefits of success. They think their “talent” will take over and carry them to victory in the end. They don’t want to work hard for success. Success doesn’t just come without effort. There is a big connection between hard work and success. Yes, you can work hard and still not be successful. But what I’m trying to say is simple. If we train harder than our opponents, if we want it more than our opponents, and if we are more focused than our opponents, we will more likely reap the benefits of success over our competition. I’m excited to see what the next few weeks have in store for us.

I’m going to miss the great quality time I got to spend with the guys and Mr. McClain this season. There were many memories that were made this year that I will never forget. If I had some advice to pass on to the younger teammates it would consist of two words: work hard. No matter how hard the workouts may be during track practice, always give it your all. Do not slack or give up short of the line. You will be rewarded someday for your hard work. Most of all, remember our biggest representation isn’t just SBA, it’s Jesus Christ!