It was a scorcher on the weekend of Pinnacle High School (PHS) track and field invitational. The kind of dry Arizona heat that lingers on one’s skin long after they stepped off the track. But the PHS track and field team didn’t let the weather slow them down.
“It was hot,” track head coach and PHS English teacher, Jason Jones, PHS English teacher said with a smile. “But it was fantastic. The kids did great. Lots of PRs.”
A PR (personal record) might just sound like another acronym, but in track and field, it means everything. A PR is the best time, distance or height an athlete ever achieved in their event. It demonstrates a direct measurement of an athlete’s personal growth.
Every meet provides an opportunity to display the hard work students put in as an athlete, and the PHS team stacked up achievements this season, with several athletes not just hitting PRs but blowing past them. Coaches keep track of each personal milestone and celebrate them together, proudly awarding PR pins to members of the team.
“We measure everything by season bests and PRs,” Coach Jones said. “Every time a kid hits a new personal record, we put it up with their name. Each kid gets a shout-out. We all celebrate it because they’ve earned it.”
As the season intensifies, so does the competition. Divisionals are coming up, the qualifying meet that determines who advances to state. PHS competes in Division 1, which means the team faces some of the toughest competition in Arizona.
Senior Nicole Crisman, a senior on the team, shares mixed feelings for one of her last meets of her high school career.
“It’s definitely a bittersweet feeling. This track has seen a lot. I’m going to miss this team, ” Crisman said.
The postseason stretches even further for a select few elite athletes. Nationals loom on the horizon. While not officially affiliated with high school leagues, national meets, often sponsored by brands like Nike or New Balance, attract top talent from across the country. These meets feature the best of the best, often showcasing athletes already bound for college teams.
And yes, Pinnacle has athletes at that level.
“We’ve got kids already committed to running in college,” said Kelly Groff, PHS special ed teacher and strength and conditioning sprints coach.
“We also have a kiddo, he’s traveled all over the nation already, Alex Blecha. He’s bested not only his PR but the school records, I would say, going on ten times this year,” said Coach Jones.
College recruitment for track and field differs from more mainstream sports like football or basketball. Coaches may not always come knocking. Instead, athletes often take the first step, reaching out to colleges themselves and showcasing their stats and videos.
“In track, you’re kind of selling yourself to schools,” James Schouten, high jump coach volunteer, said. “But even nowadays with the new or bigger meets, recruiters can just be there.”
The upside? Track and field offers more pathways to collegiate sports than people might think. With 18 different events, from sprinting and hurdles to pole vault and shot put, there are more opportunities for student athletes to find their niche and shine.
Some students compete in track as their primary sport; While for others, they joins one of many. But no matter an athlete’s background, Pinnacle’s coaching staff emphasizes unity and personal growth above all.
Since taking over four years ago, head coach Jones has made it his mission to create a program centered on community.
“I wanted to make the team more inclusive,” Jones said. “When you walk through those gates, you should feel like this is your place, regardless of what event you run. These are your people.”
That sense of belonging extends beyond training. Athletes support each other at every meet, lining up to cheer as teammates take on their events.
New to the team this year, senior Ingrid Veres found a community in track she never experienced in her past two years at Pinnacle.
“Being a transfer student in my junior year, it was hard for me to make friends. But joining track this year, I’ve made many friends, and I enjoy cheering them on. I wish I had joined earlier,” Veres said.
Though the team boasts plenty of raw talent, success also follows in other ways. The day-in, day-out grind makes a difference. Coaches train their athletes to hone not just their speed or strength, but also their technique, discipline and mindset.
“You can be incredibly talented, blessed with speed or power,” Coach Jones said. “But it’s what you do with that talent that matters. Can you run smart? Can you endure? Can you stay healthy and be strategic?”
Every practice, every lap and every drill has a purpose. And the reward? Going beyond just a medal or a record. The biggest reward comes when an athlete discovers a capability beyond what they imagined.
For PHS athletes, the season continued, with more meets, more training and more goals to crush. In fact, junior Sophia Elasky beat the PHS record in the 100m hurdles in the D1 Championship and moved on to State with other PHS athletes. But whether an individual headed to Divisionals, State or beyond, they carry the same mindset: race the clock, support the team and leave it all on the track.
