As the De Anza track and field team prepares for its upcoming meet in Irvine, California, it is planning to seize the opportunity to compete for a state title. The De Anza men’s Track and Field team captured the 2024 Coast Conference title with 224 points, outscoring Hartnell (193), Monterey Peninsula (139.50), San Mateo (114.50), Chabot (93) and San Jose City (9).
Eion Daley, 21, kinesiology major and track runner, is focusing on preparing for the next meet.
“Winning stuff here at this level is pretty much all about focus and what you’re doing to prepare for it,” Daley said. “Everyone’s fast, everyone is strong, so it’s all about what you’re doing mentally as well.”
Daley said one of the ways he keeps his teammates and himself motivated is by having fun.
“It’s a tough environment at times, but it’s a lot tougher if you make it tough on yourself if you take things too seriously,” Daley said. “I’m not saying don’t take things seriously, but there’s a time to joke around and there’s a time to have fun too.”
Sam Betz, 20, business administration major, who does pole vault and javelin, feels as though his mentality is his biggest obstacle.
“Having to perform at such a high level and really only hav(ing) one opportunity,” Betz said. “I think that is probably the biggest obstacle in the way.”
Betz said his main goal is to win a state title.
“If I win a state title, I mean it would obviously (be) a big deal. That’s the goal,” Betz said. “At this point, (I’m) just preparing and doing my best to get to that point.”
Mateo Garcia, 18, history major and thrower, said the biggest difficulty with school and sports is mental health.
“Just trying to find time to like decompress mentally after a day is difficult at times because I’m always pretty cooked,” Garcia said.
Garcia said he is focused on throwing his marks at this upcoming meet because it could help him secure future opportunities in the sport.
“If I win a state title it means I’ll have thrown marks that the colleges I’m talking to want,” Garcia said. “If I end up winning one it’ll be pretty nice, it (would) mean I will have thrown as far as I want to throw this year.”
