In Track & Field, every second counts. Athletes must push themselves to their physical limits through every stride, testing their versatility of speed, strength, and commitment to the sport.

At the DCL Track & Field Championship meet on January 22 at the Newbalance Track in Boston, senior Vinny Buonacore left it all on the track, breaking the WA school record for the 300-meter race. The previously standing record was 36.00 seconds and Buonacore topped this record by finishing 0.2 seconds faster with a time of 35.8 seconds.

“The 300m is a fast and tiring race so it was mostly a blur but all I could think about was [whether] I broke the record [or not] and how I could push myself further next time to get a faster time and a new record to qualify for nationals,” Buonacore said.

The 300-meter event consisted of 34 runners and 11 teams. In Buonacore’s heat, there were five other highly talented DCL athletes he competed against, finshing fourth out of these runners. The proficiency of all of the athletes created a competitive and thrilling environment.

“The atmosphere was electric, and with my team and all my friends cheering for me, it definitely added to the excitement,” Buonacore said.

Buonacore only joined WA Track & Field his junior year, but his consistency and dedication to the sport has allowed him to qualify for the upcoming Division 1 championship meet on February 12.

“Buonacore is a strong and persistent athlete since he is always looking for ways to improve,” senior Track & Field athlete Ali Abdulkareem said. “He is a fun and cooperative teammate since he gets along with everybody on the team and also teaches others how to improve their running.”

Throughout the last two years, Buonacore has improved immensely as a runner. He has participated in a diverse number of events spanning from the 55-meter race to the 400-meter race. During this year’s indoor season, the 300-meter race has been a high priority for Buonacore and he raced in this event at the majority of the meets over the course of his indoor season.

“During earlier meets, I placed high in my races which definitely gave me confidence to do well and break the records for the races I run,” Buonacore said.

Buonacore’s record-breaking performance at the DCL Championship holds great weight as he is an influential figure on the Track team especially the younger runners.

“The underclassmen will be excited to share that they were on a team with Buonacore when he broke the record,” senior Track & Field athlete Ryan Kyle said.

Buonacore has had a successful season thus far and hopes to stay healthy and in shape for his upcoming meets. His goal is to remain consistent with his training for the next few weeks so he can put his maximum effort into his events.

“It means a lot to me [that I beat the school record] and it boosts my confidence and encourages me to try to break more records, do better, and work harder every day,” Buonacore said.