After football season ends, in comes track.

This leads many multi-sport athletes to think: now what?

For many of them, running track is the solution.

But why?

“Track is a sport that helps you become a better athlete. It makes you faster, more flexible, more explosive, and all of those things help with football,” said Coach Nick Stokes.

Whether someone is recovering from injury, or just trying to get some running in, many believe that track is a good thing for football players to do in the off-season.

“Track is my thing. It helps us get better, fast, and it conditions us,” commented Brandon Williams, a varsity football player.

It may not be easy, and for some athletes it wasn’t even a welcomed change.

“We had no choice to. We were forced,” Williams said.

He found the transition between the two sports to be quite a challenge.

“It was a lot of running ; a lot more than in football. It was a pretty crazy transition,” said Williams.

“I don’t think they like it. Track isn’t always fun. It’s a very demanding sport and it’s very challenging to get through the workouts, but I think they will like the results that come from it,” said Coach Nick Stokes.

Late in the spring, the two different sports begin to collide.

But are football players the more gifted athletes?

“No, they’re not. I wish they were,” said Coach Stokes.

“No. The track meets taught us a lot. No. We’re not. No. Those track kids practice everyday, and do it for a living. So, no,” Williams said.

Members of both sports are finding that the two share more similarities than differences.

“I think we are equal as far as work ethic, but football players get the leg up because we do things like Crossfit,” said Myles Russell, a player on the varsity football team.

“The track kids are definitely more athletic than us,” commented Chima Maroney, a varsity football player, with little hesitation.

Although the track team is composed of mostly football players, there are plenty of openings for next year for any aspiring runners.