The initial excitement of the spring has turned into an amazing start at FVHS as the track and field team moves into the middle of their season. While the first meets showed the leadership and growth of the team’s top performers, they are now being put to the test.
Junior Derek Desmarais has spent the first half of the season successfully navigating the transition from the basketball court to the high jump. Desmarais has used the extra time between jumps to sharpen his mental game and technical form.
“It was definitely a big difference between basketball and track,” Desmarais said. “In basketball, it’s practice every day and games a couple times a week. In track, you have one meet a week, and you might have only 10 minutes to rest between jumps. It was hard adjusting, but as an athlete, you have to.”
Desmarais is currently fueled by a personal drive to surpass his father’s legacy in the sport. Having already cleared 6-foot-4-inches.
This season, he is now focused on the technical fixes needed to hit his next milestone.
“My goal is 6-foot-6-inches,” he said. “Even bystanders say I’m high enough to clear it, but I need to work on getting my hips up and snapping better over the bar.”
The same mid-season intensity is shared by sophomore Jeffrey Harrington, who has established himself as a high performer in the triple jump, after coming back through ankle injuries earlier in the year.
“I hit 41 feet, 4 inches, and I’m top seven in the region,” Harrington said. “My next goal is 45 feet, but before I graduate, I want the school record.”
Harrington noted that his physical health has become a major advantage during this stretch of the season.
“My ankles feel better now; I’ve gotten used to the impact,” he said. As recruiting opens next year, he is focusing on core and leg strength to reach a career high of 53 feet and secure a D1 college spot.
The Bengals’ journey continues as they look to turn these mid-season marks into state-level qualifications. With leaders like Desmarais and Harrington finding their stride, the team is ready to go to regionals on May 9 at Cuthbertson High School.
