When most people hear the words Track and Field, they immediately think of running. But the sport is so much more than seeing who’s the fastest. With events like Javelin, Discus, and High Jump, the sport encapsulates all different types of athletes with very different skill sets and so many can get forgotten underneath the flashy running events.

One of Oviedo’s most successful and dominant athletes can’t be found on the turf, but instead behind the toeboard. Junior Olivia Chapman recently set the school record for discus while competing in multiple events.l At her most recent meet, Chapman placed 1st out of 35 in discus, 2nd out of 28 in javelin, and 7th out of 38 in shot put. With numbers this strong, Chapman has her sights set high.

“I plan on continuing to push my school record and placing top 3 at states,” Chapman said, “I want to get recruited by major D1’s this season”.

The versatile junior has years of practice under her belt, but specific training helps her achieve her outrageous numbers.

“I’m always in the gym drilling my footwork, doing specific exercises for explosiveness, and I did weightlifting this year so that helped my strength,” Chapman said.

Chapman attributes some of her success to weightlifting, but she’s not the only dual sport athlete who uses their skills in Track and Field. Senior Domonic Tejada, known for his dominant defense and impressive dunks on the basketball court, took his senior year to use his talents in the high jump.

“Practicing jumping for years playing basketball helped me get good hops for the high jump,” Tejada said.

T&F requires jerky movements and sharp cuts so making sure athletes prepare correctly is an important part of staying healthy and performing their best.

“Before every meet, I have to make sure I feel warm and I’m all stretched out,” Tejada said. 

While Tejada uses his basketball background to jump high, Junior Samurai Chisolm uses high skills from football to jump far in the long jump. And while Chisolm’s gifted athleticism is a key part of his game as a linebacker, it can only take him so far in Track and Field as mastering the technique can be just as, if not more important.

“I have to focus on fixing my start, that is what has held me back so far,” Chisholm said.

Oviedo’s T&F squad has top talents, and multiple competitors are committed or searching for colleges to attend. Previously mentioned Olivia Chapman is still undecided, unlike Senior Hurdler Josie Harshbarger, who is committed to Lynn College in Florida, a division II school.

“My goal is to break the school record for hurdles and qualify for regionals,” Harshbarger said,

“I am focusing on winning my meets in high school but also on preparing myself for the difficulties of college athletics”.

While speed is an obvious necessity in the hurdles, Josie has to train in other aspects to reach her best times. This training led her to a 3rd place finish in the 400-meter hurdles at the Hagerty meet.

“The hurdles are very tough mentally. You have to count your steps exactly and have perfect form so I’m always working on my technique and I lift outside of track” Harshbarger said.

Even though the field athletes can sometimes be overshadowed by the runners, they still support each other and recognize the importance of teamwork.

“I always support the runners at their events and they always try to support me during mine” Chapman said.