When senior Sarah Bennett steps up to the starting line at the track, she has a different feeling than when she lines up for cross country. In cross country, she lines up with six teammates looking to push each other to achieve a victory for the team. On the track, she races alone, racing against the clock and her competitors individually.

“Track is more of an individual feel, as opposed to a more team approach in cross country,” Bennett said. “This is not to say that track doesn’t have a great team atmosphere, it’s just the races themselves are more individual as you do not line up or race next to your teammates like you do in cross country.”

Track is unique in this respect. A track meet consists of 16 events, with two runners in each event. The runners compete individually, with the exception of the relays, but score points as a team. It is a true blend of a team sport and an individual sport.

In the sprints, it is the runners against the clock, running as fast as they can. They don’t have time to worry about how their teammate is doing, and they are concerned only with their own race. The same is true during the throws and jumps. However, in the distance events, it is easier for teammates to work together during the race to run their best.

“Our 1600 runners are so close together time-wise they pretty much work together,” Head Coach Tim Mylin said. “I don’t specifically tell them to key off each other, but you can tell they are doing that in the race. We have a lot of girls packing up in the 1600 and 3200.”

Bennett takes advantage when her teammates are in her race, but she knows her first priority is to score points.

“You run your individual best in an effort to earn as many possible points for the team as a whole. If you do have a teammate running in the same race as you, it is encouraging to have them running with you as you both race to your potential.”

Bennett primarily runs the 800, but she is also one of the top runners on the 4×800 meter relay. Relays are unique because they require team chemistry and good communication with teammates during the course of the race. Handoffs are vital and, according to Mylin, without good communication the relay becomes much harder.

“There is a chemistry with the relays, especially with the 4×100 and 4×400. There is definitely that chemistry, you have that camaraderie among teammates,” Mylin said. “I’ll see team captains doing pep talks and team prayers and that all makes a difference with a relay.”

The various events force track to be a more individual sport. With sixteen events, the meet is split, and the runners must be prepared whenever they are called upon to run. Although it can feel much more individually focused, the girl’s track team has many activities and traditions to build a team first atmosphere. Bennett said that the girls on the team are close and encourage each other to do their best.

“As a team, we all stretch together and end practice with a team cheer,” she said. “We also had a team movie night at the beginning of the season, and we cheer each other on during our events.”

The girls enjoy the closeness of a team. But Mylin emphasizes individual goals to help the girls run the best they can and help the team as a whole. He said he stresses that they run their own race, take control and compete as individuals.

“We really focus on individual goals,” Mylin said. “If an individual doesn’t have their own goals, and they’re not motivated to achieve for themselves, they are going to have a hard time contributing to the team. If they take care of business for themselves, they will help out the team in the process.”

Bennett may not line up on the starting line with all of her teammates, but she knows that she is still racing for the team.

“When I step on the line, you are representing the greyhounds, and you want to do well,” she said.