The middle school track season has come to an end, but seventh-grader Alex M. and eighth-grader Austin H. continue to train at the track.

“I’m always striving to get better, and I see practicing with the high-school team as a great opportunity to get better,”  Austin said. Alex also competes for the cross-country team.

“I want to practice running and get better for next season,” said Alex, who has a specific goal in mind for the upcoming cross-country season: to run a 20-minute 5k. He said speed workouts on the track will help him get that extra kick at the end of a race.

Austin, on the other hand, participates in track meets not associated with the that he needs to stay in shape for.

“I am doing an 800-meter (half mile) race next Saturday, and I should do pretty good because that is what I am training for in practice,” he said. “My goal time is 2 minutes and 18 seconds or Top 2 because that is what I need to qualify for middle-school state.”

Austin said new distance coach Eric Kieffer is helping him reach his goals.

“I think Coach Kieffer is a really good coach and he knows what he is doing,” he said. ” I feel like he is one of the reasons why I am getting faster and stronger.”

By Grant Gibson

Editor’s note: Brevard Public Schools policy prohibits the inclusion of middle-schoolers’ last names on district-sponsored web sites.