Cameron Drake’s perspective on running track has changed in a year. In high school at Central Valley, track was an outlet for Drake to stay in shape in between playing football and hockey. Now a freshman in college at Grove City, Drake has heightened his focus on track, learning to appreciate it for what it is in itself, while balancing it with football.
“It went from being a hobby in high school, to now being something I enjoy more,” Drake said. “Because I’m good at it I like to keep going and push myself.”
Drake’s greater focus on track, most recently, has led to him earning Division III South Rookie of the Week honors. The award comes in light of Drake winning the 110 meter high hurdles and 400 meter hurdles at the Oberlin College's Bob Kahn Invitational last weekend. Drake ran the former event in 16.14 seconds, and the latter event in 59.71 seconds, improvements over his times of 16.40 seconds and 1:00.41 seconds at the previous meet. The results, Drake said, have come from a more regimented training plan in college.
“It’s more planned because our meets are on Saturdays, not all throughout the week like in high school. So we have a strict plan for what we’re doing,” Drake said. “We’re usually doing technique on Tuesday and Thursdays and we’re doing a lot of conditioning on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It’s a little bit different being in a different atmosphere with a lot of great runners. It’s motivating.”
As Drake has adjusted to a more comprehensive training plan, he’s also had to refine his technique, as the hurdles are higher in college than in high school. It’s been a process adjusting to it, but Drake has gotten gradually more comfortable with more practice.
“I’m just trying to get up and over them quicker,” Drake said. “Since they are higher, I have to stretch more to be more flexible and to be able to pull my trail leg around. It’s been a big obstacle, just trying to adapt to the high hurdles.”
As the outdoor track season has started, so to has spring practice for football. Having not been at Grove City for last year’s spring practices, Drake has had to learn how to balance two sports with being a student, a time crunch that often results in Drake jumping from class to football practice to track practice in a day.
“It’s a little grueling on some days, but you just have to make it work,” Drake said. “Once you get the hang of it, it’s just a daily routine.”
For Drake, the gratification he gets from both sports is worth the trouble, especially as he sees himself improve. A wide receiver for the football team, Drake appeared in eight games and started in two as a freshman, compiling 140 yards on 16 catches. This season, Drake expects a heightened role, one he sees himself fit to take on.
“It’s really nice being there for spring ball because when you come in as a freshman, everybody knows everything already and you’re just trying to catch up. But now being there settled in, I feel more grounded and confident,” Drake said.
“I think this year I’ll have a much more impactful role. I’m really excited to see where it goes.”
BASEBALL
• Geneva’s Daunte Hill (Beaver Falls) pitched 3.2 shutout innings in a 9-8 win over Waynesburg.
WOMEN’S LACROSSE
• Kayla Foster (Quaker Valley) has scored 38 points on 17 goals and 21 assists through Liberty’s first 13 games.
MEN’S LACROSSE
• Jimmy Perkins (Quaker Valley) scored 3 goals and dished out an assist for Robert Morris in a 11-9 win over Canisius.
SOFTBALL
• Kassandra Deana (Ambridge) has hit .279 through Chatham’s first 18 games.
• Emily Duerr (OLSH) collected two hits — one double — and three RBI’s for Saint Vincent in a 19-2 over Waynesburg.