By BROOKE BOYER-  The cold winter months haven’t stopped the devoted track athletes here at IHS. This past season, records have been broken and titles have been won by an especially talented group of distance runners. These boys have exemplified dedication, persistence, talent, and true love for their sport through these exceptional achievements.

On February 17, the relay team won the TSTCA championships for the first time in school history. States for winter track took place at Penn State University on Sunday, February 24. There, the team of Berzonsky, Jopia, Branan, and Bujdos well-represented IHS and claimed seventh place.

This season, the 4×800, 4×400, 200, 400, 800, and distance medley relay school records have been broken. The team of seniors Joey Bujdos and Matt Berzonsky, and juniors Lago Jopia and Kendall Branan broke the records for the 4×400, 4×800, and distance medley relay. Additionally, Branan claimed the new records of the 200, 400, and 800 meter races.

Sophomore and winter track distance runner Tucker Davis said, “Joey, Matt, Lago, and Kendall ran an 8:11.47 in the 4×800, which broke the school record and made us #1 in PA at the time. Watching them race was crazy.”

Branan set the new school record for the 800 meter, which he regards as his best memory of the winter season. The previous record of 2:00.4 was broken by Branan with a time of 1:58.9. “I felt really excited and happy,” Branan described.

While working hard, these boys didn’t forget how to have fun. When asked about the most memorable experiences of his senior winter track season, Bujdos recalled, “Probably doing so many great workouts with the distance runners. Our winter track team was about 80% boy distance runners. When we ran together or did a workout on the road, we were an army. We also did a lot of ice sliding and had snowball fights.”

As the winter track season shifts to the beginning of the spring track season, the team and individual goals of these athletes only grow stronger. Davis expressed, “This track season, I really want to break 10 minutes in the 3200, and be county champ in the 3200 as well.” Branan said, “I hope we can go to states and win WPIALS.”

Since the winter track season has officially come to an end, be sure to wish these boys good luck in the spring track season!

[Photo by Mr. Cochran]

Photo Caption: The team of Bujdos, Berzonsky, Jopia, and Branan hold up a trophy from the TSTCA team championships after a successful race.