This track athlete has witnessed a couple of changes in her three years of running for the Bulldogs, from a new roster of teammates, to senior graduating.

Junior Olivia Hawkins has been running track since she was 11 years old.

“I’ve been participating in track since I was in fifth grade, in middle school,” Hawkins said.

Hawkins participates in three main events.

“I typically do the 800 meter, and the 4 x 4, and the 4

 x 800 relay,” Hawkins said.

She says her main goal for track this year is to set new personal records.

“[I would like to] hopefully make it to state this year in the 800 meter and 4 x 4,” Hawkins said.

Hawkins says she thinks the hardest thing about conditioning is getting back into shape.

“[It’s hard to] stay mentally ready, to get back into shape, and being patient with yourself,” Hawkins said.

As far as Hawkins is concerned, she considers girls track to be an underappreciated sport.

“I believe running is one of the most difficult sports you could do, because it’s just you out there, and you’re pushing your body to it’s complete limits, until the point of passing out, or lightheadedness, or throwing up, and it’s just pushing your body to its absolute limits,” Hawkins said. “So I think it is underappreciated, the hard work that track is.”

In order to expose the sport a little bit more, Hawkins says people need to know more about the significance of the sport.

“I think to expose the sport is to just talk to people about the benefits of it and the importance of it, and how it truly just helps you get into an overall healthy lifestyle, mentally and

 physically,” Hawkins said.

When comparing cross country and track, Hawkins considers track to be more beneficial.

“I like track more specifically because I like the high speed and fast pace,” Hawkins said. “So it’s really given me better speed and I believe it even gives me more of a competitive mindset than cross country does because it’s a short distance.”

Hawkins says when she goes to college she plans to focus more on college than track.

“I would consider participating in track in college, if I were to get offers to schools that I wanted to, but I’m leaning towards not participating in track in college, and focusing more on a difficult major,” Hawkins said.

Hawkins’ advice for any incoming freshman next year would be to have a hard work ethic.

“Remember to have fun with it, don’t put too much pressure on yourself, just let the pressure go, and let your physicality take over,” Hawkins said.