As the sunset starts to come in the late afternoon and trees become bare, we’re reminded of the fast-approaching winter and holiday season. But while some of us may be starting to cozy up with blankets and hot cocoa after school, the OPHS Indoor Track Team is out practicing after school in the ever-colder fall air, typically till 4 or 5pm. Although a bit ironic, Indoor Track practices outdoors on the newly renovated OPHS track. 

   Inaya Khan, a 9th grader at Osbourn Park High School, is excited and nervous for the track season. Although she ran the 800m in her middle school track and field team, this will be her first high school track experience. On Monday, she did a distance workout that Coach Kosogof guaranteed no one would finish (unless he got the times wrong). “It was short, but it was hard.” Inaya recalls.  

   On the other hand, Skye Hackley, a 12th grader, will be running her 4th year here at Osbourn Park. Skye runs the 5k in Cross-Country and the 1600m in track and field. After a rough end to Cross-Country at the Cedar Run District Championships, she has been recovering from a knee injury that has prevented her from running in practice. She hopes to recover before the season truly starts rolling, and she’s very excited to meet all the new athletes.  

   Coach Kosogof, one of the track coaches and a history teacher here at OP, is ecstatic for the Indoor Track season, especially for the new track. “This… [track] is gonna be a wondrous thing that we have to use now.” To raise funds for track invitationals and equipment, the OP Indoor Track & Field Team is currently running a popcorn fundraiser in which athletes are encouraged to sell at least $100 worth of popcorn.

   The Winter Jacket Classic on December 2nd will be the first meeting on the school’s new track. “We’re very excited for that,” Coach Kosogof says. Overall, the athletes and coaches at OP are eager to start a new indoor track season. Mark your calendars to come support OP’s track and field team at the Winter Jacket Classic on December 2nd!