More SPS students are leaping to their full potential than ever before. This spring, 17 all-city records were established or broken by SPS middle school athletes. The broken records and high achievement of middle school track athletes indicates a growing level of excellence districtwide in track, according to Marty Marsh, assistant director of athletics/activities.

 

"This year, we increased by 117 participants, and in the last four years, we've seen steady growth in the track program," he says. "We've placed greater emphasis on track and field at the middle school level, and our coaches are recruiting students much more actively. With the rise in popularity of personal fitness across the country and our recruitment efforts, now, more athletes at the middle school level are seeing track as a way to become a better athlete."

 

One exceptional track athlete is Cherokee Middle School eighth-grader Jaden Wiley. This spring, she broke six all-city records at the eighth-grade level and won every event she entered this year except one, which she placed second. At a track meet May 3, she competed in four events - and broke city records in all four.

 

"Jaden Wiley is an exceptional athlete," said Marsh. "She's a student leader in every sense of the word, she's incredibly humble and she's always focused on continued success in the classroom or on the track. There is no doubt that participating in track and field is one way that she's learning to set goals and to reach her full potential."

 

More and more students across SPS are learning to set goals and aim high, thanks to track and field. Over the past three years, middle schools across SPS have seen substantial and continued growth in participation of the sport. In three years, districtwide, participation rose from 700 to 924 students, and gains have been experienced at every middle school. In 2013, 30 students competed in track and field at Pipkin Middle School. This year, 64 students competed in the sport. In the same period, Pershing K-8 School's program grew from 133 students to 157.  

 

Shane Peak, Pershing boys track and field coach, credits the inclusive and supportive nature of track and field for its increased popularity.

"Everybody can be in track," he says. "It's a great way to become mentally tougher, to be more mentally focused, and it's a great way for middle school students to learn how to be confident in what they can achieve. Every single one of my athletes, they all make gains and strides in track."

Strides of support by coaches across SPS are encouraging students to succeed in or out of a jersey, says Marsh.

 

"Kids, they see and experience the benefits of becoming involved in athletics and activities," said Marsh. "Students who are involved in athletics and activities have higher grade point averages and attendance rates, fewer incidents of discipline and ultimately, a lower drop-out rate. By supporting students to get involved outside of the regular school day, we're complementing our overall goal, which is to provide engaging, relevant and personal learning opportunities for our kids."