Tualatin’s girls’ track team finished the season as state champs after coming in tied with Lake Oswego for first at the 6A State meet at the end of May. The co-state champions win is their first title in school history. The boys had many wins, as well, and came in 11th in 6A. 

The Wolf interviewed these accomplished individuals from Track & Field: juniors Lauren Ayers, Karys Gates, Elizabeth Graham and Ethan Grimm and seniors Marcus Ludes and Aaron Lakeman.. 

What is your favorite part of track?

Ayers: Getting to focus on and work towards your individual goals while being part of something bigger than yourself. Celebrating teammates’ goals, PRs, school records, state titles. I LOVE the relays because it is truly a team effort, which makes it so much more fun. 

Gates: My favorite part of track is the amazing team. Everyone is so supportive of each other, and no matter the event, people are there cheering for you. 

Ludes: The community surrounding it. I’ve made countless friendships and memories from doing track, and although I love competing, the community is what made me continue doing it.

What will you miss most about your team?

Lakeman: I miss the fun memories of team dinners and seeing the joy of people getting PR’s and the fun jokes and stories we tell each other during practice.

Graham: The seniors will honestly be the part of my team that I’ll miss the most because they brought such a fun and positive energy that will be hard to replicate without them.

Grimm: I have another year, but the thing I will miss most about the team is the flexibility and how sociable everyone is. 

What led your team to success at state this year?

Ayers: Our depth! Every single person podiumed at state and scored points. We were seeded 15 points behind first place going into the meet, but everyone stepped up big and fought for every single point when it mattered the most leading to the State Title! 

Graham: Track is a pretty individualistic sport, but when we looked into how our girls’ team actually had a chance at winning state, the team aspect was clear, and it was going to take all of us doing our part to win. It wasn’t perfect at all times, but we were confident in each other, and that helped us bring home the win.

Ludes: Being supportive of each other the whole way. Going to each other’s events and watching and cheering. Lining around the track for distance runners and the relays, joining the claps for the jumpers, getting over to where the throwers are and cheering, and most importantly our pre- and post-meet talks. Talking about your successes and failures is important, and [it] feels great when there’s an outlet for that.