Lauren Hartnett
Staff Writer
Have you ever had something that was so close and important to you that you never would want to give it up? That’s exactly how Emily Raczelowski feels about track.
“Track really affects my life because it’s just to get away from the rest of my life,” said Raczelowski. “It’s my happy place!”
Whether you’ve seen Raczelowski throwing shot put, running the relay, or simply on the WA morning announcements you know she is no stranger to the spotlight. She even won the Most Athletic superlative, which pleased her immensely.
“That’s almost what I want to be known as here, I’m definitely an athlete and that’s just like, my image I guess. And others see that in me,” said Raczelowski.
But track isn’t just a sport to Emily, it’s also a place where she can become closer with her friends on the team. The track team is very close, whether it be before the track meet, during the meet, or even when the season ends. You’ll always find teammates hanging out together, which shows how dedicated and tight the track team is.
Track is like a life-long challenge for Raczelowski. She has the ability to test herself during track meets and set goals for herself. Ever since her freshmen year in high school, Raczelowski has been frequently involved with track. She went from running the open 200 relays in freshmen year to becoming one of the track captains this year. Along the way she broke WA’s school indoor shot put record, which is now at 36 ft 11 inches.
But her goals for track haven’t run out yet. In the near future Raczelowski has her hopes set on breaking some more school track records. Later on she wants to take place in the Heptathlon and get back into participating in the hurdles.
“I also want to work on my training,” said Raczelowski. “I want to get as strong as I can and as fast as I can to get in the best possible shape I can be in to do my sport.”
One of Raczelowski’s favorite track events to participate in is the hurdles. Even though she is strongest at throwing, she enjoys racing much more.
“It’s way more exciting,” said Raczelowski. “I have people cheering for me and everyone’s supportive.”
While racing she can feel her adrenaline pumping with excitement. Especially while jumping hurdles, because it not only takes speed but skill.
Her favorite track event in all though, is the relays. With the four people running one race the position can change drastically, causing suspense.
“It’s full of adrenaline and full of energy and I just love it,” said Raczelowski.
When Raczelowski steps up for her part of the race in the relay she loves to hear all the people cheering around her and giving her support.
“When I’m the last person and everyone’s cheering for me to catch the person in front of me, it feels so good, everyone’s counting on me and it’s just the greatest,” she said.
Raczelowski had a chance to witness all the track athletes unite together last year when Liv Marchand died. A few days after the tragic incident, one of the most well known track events was taking place. Before the track meet all the track athletes made bracelets to honor Liv. Then when they went to the meet everyone was wearing the bracelets and representing her.
“I was kind of moved by how everyone was doing this,” said Raczelowski. “We were almost brought together by it.”
That very night was when Raczelowski broke the school’s shot put record.
“I was so proud of myself,” she said. “I remember in my freshmen health class I was writing down the goal I wanted to do in highscool and I said that I wanted to break the school’s shot put record, and I did. I just felt like that was the day, I felt so good,” said Raczelowski.
Emily Raczelowski wants to participate in track for as long as she lives. Track is apart of her life, and she doesn’t ever want to give it up.
“I just want to make a name for myself, I guess,” said Raczelowski. “I just want to be that person that when coaches are talking about a good track athlete, a dedicated athlete, I want them to refer back to me.”
