Being in a sport requires inspiration and support, which Issac Roman (10) received from his dad and coach. Roman has been in track since first grade, but he wouldn’t be where he is today without his supporters. 

“My dad and my coach were my inspiration, my dad got me into it at first and my coach just kept telling me to work hard every day and it’s motivational,” Roman said.

Recently Roman has hit a new personal record of 16 in pole vault. Roman acquired this personal record by using different techniques to mentally and physically train.  

“I have two practices a day, I also lift during the day and then have actual track practice after school, and swimming also helps. I use weekends for recovery,” Roman said. “It’s challenging to keep a good mindset since it’s such a mental sport, but to overcome it I just think of the positive and don’t focus on the negative.”

Roman wishes to have a future career in finance or somewhere in the stock market, track helped him learn discipline and dedication and these skills will help Roman with these careers. 

“Track gives me discipline because it is such a technical sport and if you’re not practicing you’re not going to get better so you always have to show up no matter if you want to or not,” Roman said. “Dedication because you have to be able to show up when you don’t want to all the time if that’s waking up in the morning early, or staying after practice just to get those extra reps in.”

Overall, within track and field, Roman has gotten inspiration and support, achieved new personal recorders, and learned skills that can help him succeed in the future.