When people usually think of track and field, they can picture runners that sprint to a finish line, a stopwatch ticking, and a winner who’s decided in seconds.

But at Brunswick High School (BHS), track and field is more than just a race.

It’s about repetition.

There’s No I In Team:

Showing up when one’s legs are sore, when the weather’s bad, when one is tired of putting in work and they’re not seeing results yet. It’s a sport built on small improvements that most don’t even notice. It’s a sport built off of discipline, resilience, and determination that is created from consistent effort and hard work.

Josiah Nunez, a senior and track team captain, explains how his confidence has grown because of his experiences at BHS; he reflects on his track career.

“Now, looking back as a senior, I have a lot more confidence before and after a race, knowing the work I put in practice will carry me to good times,” Nunez said. 

Track and field is not just a physical sport, but a mental sport as well.

Every race feels like a constant battle with anxiety and determination. Each event demands something different. Whether it’s speed, endurance, strength, or technique.

Yet, what connects all the events is the mindset required to improve. Nunez shares his pre-race focus before meets.

“I usually try to cut out all distractions,” Nunez said. “I warm up 30 to 45 minutes prior and try to get my head in a space that is ready to compete. But as my race gets closer, 10 minutes before, I tend to talk to people on the line to help not focus on some of my nerves.”

Before The Gun Goes Off:

Moments before the race, is when a runner’s mindset matters the most. Having a positive mindset significantly affects the outcome of one’s race. In track, runners are not just competing against others, they’re constantly competing against themselves. 

Track and field also builds a unique kind of team environment. While events are individual, the team’s success depends on everyone’s performance. A sprinter’s points matter just as much as a distance runner’s and a thrower’s contribution can be the difference between winning and losing a meet.

“Although track is considered an individual sport, having a team around me makes things less scary and pushes me to be better,” Nunez said.

This creates an environment with support where teammates cheer each other on, regardless of the event.  

Beyond The Finish Line:

Beyond the physical aspect, the sport teaches lessons that extend off the track. Athletes can learn how to manage pressure, stay consistent, and push through mental struggles. Difficult practices, intense workouts, and the constant desire to improve shape not only better athletes, but stronger individuals.

 “There was one race my junior year where I pulled a leg muscle and couldn’t finish. It affected my confidence, but I learned to take better care of my body and that one setback didn’t define me,” Nunez said.

But what often goes unnoticed is the mental battle that comes with the sport. 

Track is as much a mind game as it’s a physical one. Before every race, there’s a moment of stillness, standing on the line, spikes pressed into the track, anxiety while waiting for the gun to fire. That’s usually when doubt can creep in.

There’s no hiding in track. No bench to sit on, no teammate to take one’s place. When the gun goes off, it’s just the runner, their hard work, and their ability to focus. Athletes have to learn how to silence distractions, control their nerves, and trust the work they’ve put in.

More Than A Number:

In track everything is exposed.

An athlete’s time is their time. The mark is their mark. It doesn’t matter how hard they feel they’ve worked, there’s a number that always proves it. And sometimes that number can determine their confidence and self-worth.

Sometimes all the hard work and effort athletes put in every single day, can only be defined by a number. At times, it can be frustrating to be confined and determined by a number.  But that number can also be a reminder that what they put into their work ethic is what comes out of the track. That number can become a challenge to push harder, focus more, and keep improving. 

Nunez wants newcomers to see the fun and variety in the sport.

“If everyone gave track and field a chance, they would find something they love,” Nunez said.

Distance runners face a different kind of mental challenge. Their races aren’t over in seconds, they take time. Every lap can be a struggle in their head on whether to slow down, whether to push harder, or whether they can even keep going at all. Distance runners have to measure out the pace they must keep, the doubt that can happen, the fatigue, and the patience they must withhold. The actual race happens mentally, way before the finish line can be seen. 

Even outside of competition, the mental side never really stops. Track athletes deal with pressure to improve, frustration when progress feels slow, and the discipline to keep showing up day after day. It takes a strong mindset to handle backs, bad races, injuries, or times when  quitting can be easier than continuing. 

No matter if a runner has had a bad day or good day they are there to support their teammates and encourage them to improve. Track members want their teammates to do their best and want to push them because they know that they can do it. Track and field is more than a sport, it’s a community and a family.