Good to have confidence entering sectional track and field meet
VALDERS (WLUK) -- Thursday track and field athletes will compete at sectionals with a chance to qualify for the state meet, and coming off a victory or two at regionals does help raise the confidence.
Gibraltar's McKailey Reisen and Hilbert's Austin Cullen each won multiple events at regionals on Tuesday and that success has boosted their confidence as they prepare for sectionals.
"Boosted a lot, actually," said Reisen, who won regional titles in the 100-meter hurdles and high jump. "Getting fourth (at regionals) is obviously good because you still get to move on and run your race again, but when you're getting first you're a little more optimistic about what your place might be in sectionals."
"It gives me a decent amount of confidence," said Cullen, who won regional titles in the 100, 200, 400 and long jump. "I know there's going to be super-fast kids at sectionals, so I know right now coming in first it might be a lot different on Thursday, but I just go to prepare for that."
Athletes have two days off between regionals and sectionals, so it's hard to get faster, jump higher or throw farther in that short amount of time, so what can they do in that time to possibly get better as they get ready for sectionals?
"It's just kind of watch my diet and eating clean until Thursday; taking light practices," said Cullen.
"Really just get out of my head because I think about my races a lot, and I need to work on my trail leg in the 100 hurdles, especially, so just working on that in practice," Reisen said.
Cullen and Reisen know they will be tested at sectionals.
"(I'm) confident that I have it to move on but you never know what's going to happen, so you just got to prepare," Cullen said.
"Even if I don't make it to state that would suck obviously, but if I PR (set a personal record) I would be happy with that," Reisen said. "I'm having a rough season, so I'm really happy with how I'm doing."
After winning at regionals at least Cullen and Reisen have momentum.
Follow Doug Ritchay on Twitter @dougritchay
