With the race on the line and everyone trailing behind, HHS’s talented track athlete, Precious Silver (10), didn’t just win; she took over the meet. The sophomore sprinter flew through the 200-meter dash at Bishop DuBourg on March 28 in 28.38 seconds, leaving her competitor nearly a full second behind.
Silver’s win wasn’t just another race, it showed how much she’s been improving. Last season, she finished second in the SCAA conference meet’s 100-meter dash with a time of 13.6 seconds. This year, she already improved, running a 13.4 in her first race of the season.
“I’ve been running track since middle school, and back then, I thought it was just something fun to do,” Silver said. “But now, I see how much I’ve improved throughout each season. I’m learning more about my speed and how to push myself to do better.
She’s been improving in the 200m, too. Last year, she won the conference meet with a
time of 29.83 seconds, but this season, she’s already blown past that, setting a new best personal record of 28.09 at the Lutheran North home opener. At Bishop DuBourg, she kept pushing herself, proving she’s not just fast, but she was getting even faster.
“When I got on the track for that race, I told myself, ‘I need to push myself, so I have to give it my all,’” Silver said. “I was tired, but I wasn’t about to let that slow me down.”
Track coach Mr. Carson Duchatschek has taken notice of Silver’s hard work and quick improvement.
“Precious is an incredibly talented sprinter, and she’s only getting better,” he said. “She’s off to a great start this season, and I know this is just the beginning. She’s been putting in the work at practice, and it’s paying off. I’m really proud of her, and I can’t wait to see what she does next.”
Even with her impressive times, Silver isn’t satisfied yet. She’s determined to keep improving, knowing that hard work and dedication will bring even better results.
“I plan on practicing hard to improve because I know I can go even faster,” she said. “But honestly, I’ve already improved so much, and I’m really proud of that.”
Despite her success, Silver states that her relationship with the 200-meter dash isn’t always easy.
“I have a love-hate relationship with the 200,” she said. “It’s tough, but every time I step on the track, I remind myself that I can do this. And every time, I prove to myself that I can.”
With the season still ahead, Silver is only getting started. Even though the season just began, she’s already proving she’s one of the fastest out there, and she’ll be leaving even more competition in the dust.
