New Track Recruits Sprint to First Place

Lila Hans ’23 (left) and Maya Kushnick ’23 (right) race each other for first place. Photo Credit: Elizabeth Yu

By ELIZABETH YU

A stark contrast is drawn between the navy blue of the girls’ uniforms and the clear cyan sky. The grass is greener than usual, and a slight breeze makes small ripples in their shirts. The freshmen are doing warm-ups in preparation for what is about to come: their first race.

From the first gunshot that signals the start of the race all the way to the finish line, Lila Hans ’23 and Maya Kushnick ’23 are neck-and-neck for first place. Together they sprint to the blue and orange flags that mark the end of the course, but Hans gains more ground with each stride. She finishes the 1.5 mile event at 10 minutes and 58.90 seconds, winning first place for the girls track team at the Grand Prix Series #3.

“I’ve been doing track since the middle of 7th grade,” said Hans, a veteran of the Prospect Park Youth Running Club. She considers Kushnick to be her biggest rival.

“She’s a sprinter,” Hans said, “so at the end of a race, she’s sprinting towards the finish line.”

Kushnick placed second at 11 minutes and 28.40 seconds. Both girls gave credit for their success to their coaches, Mr. Randall Joseph and Dr. David Walters.

Hans said, “[Mr. Joseph] pushes us really hard, and it definitely helps.”

The general consensus is that while the transition from the old coach to a new one was easy, practices have been tough.

Mr. Joseph said, “I’m structured towards achieving success on a regional and national level. It’s an acquired taste.”

“We used to practice at Prospect Park every day,” Aja Thompson ’20 said. “Now, we usually practice at the old Boys and Girls field and Midwood field, or the weight room.” Sometimes, the girls will even travel to Central Park for practice, according to Aysegul Yumusak ’20.

“Central Park has less potholes,” she explained, “which means the ground is more flat. Prospect Park has a lot of holes, and it’s really easy to injure yourself.”

Mr. Joseph has been coaching the girls for two years, but he has been coaching for 34 years in total. 

Marlie Adrien ’20 said, “There are some things we have to get used to, for example, junk food.” The girls are not allowed to have gum or candy at practice.

“It’s about discipline,” Mr. Joseph said. “It’s consistency. You can push someone hard, and then they slack off for a week and don’t get anything out of it.”

According to Thompson, practice now lasts two to three hours, depending on where they practice. “When you think you’re done, he’ll say, ‘Oh ladies, second workout!’” she said.

But track is about more than physical endurance and discipline; it can also teach life skills.

Dr. Walters’ priority isn’t about bringing down the girls’ times on events. “I’m focused on getting [them] together as young women,” he said, “to grow and push each other as well as themselves. As long as they have that mindset of making hard work a habit, they can’t be stopped in life.”

Coach Joseph echoed the same sentiment in his mantra. “I always preach to them, ‘You’re a queen. You’re the best. I don’t ever want to see you walking by with your head down.’”

His presents a tough-love attitude towards the girls to thicken their skins.

“I don’t effusively give praise,” he said, “but I’ve got love for all of them. In this world, nobody has time for sympathy; nobody cares.” 

And the girls do persist, as shown by their consistent attendance to practice.

“If you can get through what I’m putting you through here, you’ll be okay with life,” said Coach Joseph. “There’s nothing you can’t do.”