As spring is nearing, spring sports begin preparing for the upcoming season. Selma High Track has been working relentlessly to ensure they have the most successful season possible.
Senior Jonni Blanco does shot-put, discs, and, occasionally, the weightman’s relay. She joined because she wanted to “experience something fun” and be in an open community with friendly and exciting opportunities. After a knee injury, she was told to do a lighter sport, leading her to choose track.
“I love track,” Blanco reports “It’s amazing. The family in the track community– it’s welcoming and open. We get a lot of good laughs.”
Her best moment in track was senior night during the 2024 season. She PR’d by a foot and a half, impressing her former senior teammates. Jonni plans on going to college for nursing and was accepted into the University of Alaska, but “would rather dip my feet in college water nearby than going somewhere far before having an experience of it.” She hopes that aspiring athletes and others “Go for it– be open to new things.” Blanco continues. “Not many people do sports in college. Step out [of] your comfort zone and grow as a person.”
Joan Bolanos is a senior who runs the 200-meter and 400-meter dashes. He joined track after being convinced by his friend, Donovan Contreras, to test his interest. Joan likes track because “It is a healthy environment, and everyone there is very supportive.”
His favorite memories of track include making friends and finding his love for running again. His best moment is when he “ran the 4 by 4 in Fowler. We won but then got disqualified. It showed my team is fast.”
Joan plans to attend college and has not committed to a school yet. He doesn’t plan to do sports and wishes to focus on schoolwork. He wants readers to know to “do what you want. Don’t let the negativity outweigh the positive effects that will be shown to you.” Joan hopes people will join because it teaches lessons that “inspire you to become a great person, be responsible and a hard worker.”
Mitchell Francis coaches track, this season being his third year coaching. He enjoys the experience of the variety of students he works with: “There’s some kids that can jump,” Francis says, “some kids that can throw, some kids that can run, some kids that can do distance.” He coaches at Selma High because he “love[s] the community out here, and I love representing our town.”
They are preparing for the upcoming season by creating different plans for each position group. Each coach works with certain student athletes and assists them in enhancing their abilities.
“Coach Harshaw handles the sprinters. Coach Octavio handles the distance runners, his workout is completely different from Coach Harshaw’s. It just depends on which group specifically. Each group is pretty detailed,” said Coach Francis.
Francis sees a future of victory for Selma High’s track team, “lots of our guys standing up on podiums, holding up medals– both guys and girls.” He wants his athletes to know, “we’re ready to compete. I don’t care if we win or lose but we’re going to give it our all and not quit” He also wants readers to know that “This is a team that is hard-working.” Finally, he adds, “Go Bears!”
