After much wait, the Varsity track team recently learned the date of the annual, and much anticipated meet at Washington University, held on March 22.

Unlike most meets, the competition will be strictly for the Varsity girls and boys only. Players who don’t go however, still have the opportunity to go and support their team through the competition North will face.

“It’s going to be tough,” track coach Gregory Hennefent said. “It always is.”

For Hennefent, who has coached the team for over ten years, this competition has become one of the hardest and most important meets of the season.

As North heads into the meet, much competition will follow. Schools all across Missouri send their best Varsity track players to the meet, all of whom range from the best sprinters to the best throwers and field games.

“This is where we will really stand with other schools and show where we need to work more.” Hennefent said.

Aside from the competition aspect however, Hennefent enjoys being able to coach his team at a spot he believes to be somewhat historic spot.

“The neatest thing is that we get to run the same track that was run in the 1940 Olympics,” Hennefent said. “It’s just a real neat thing to think about.”

Being such a historic spot, players feel that the atmosphere helps the mood, and will push them even further to do their best at this meet.

“A lot goes on,” Hennefent said. “Knowing that they are there in a historic spot and feeling the competition around really gets everyone pumped up.”

The annual Washington University competition is one of the biggest competitions the track team faces each year. It is a big deal for the Varsity players, who have worked hard to reach the event, and a big deal for the players who know how exclusive it is. To be given the chance to compete in Washington is just another factor to drive the members to their best.

For Varsity members of the team, such as junior Daniel Kirkpatrik, the biggest challenge will be the different events and relays the team will run. Challenges common with this sort of event.

“The 4×4 will be the hardest thing for me,” Kirkpatrick said. “At this competition, there are the best athletes that come and compete, and the 4×4 is already hard for me.”

Until the event, the team has much work to still do. Hennefent plans on coaching the team through regular drills and practices, continuing to increase times. Overall the team is hoping to set the tone now and high with this meet so that they can progress even further later.

“We still have a lot to work on,“ Hennefent said. “We’ll keep working and increasing our times. When we head out to Wash U, we’ll be ready.”