Elkhart Times

Track and Field may be a sport that relies on individual performance, but it was truly a team effort when Trent McFarland broke a school record that had been in place since the Kennedy administration.

The Utica High School/Utica Mathematics, Science and Technology junior, now ranked as the top runner in Michigan, said it was the support of his teammates that helped motivate him to recently top a 1963 record in the 800 meter with a time of 1:55.3.

“It feels amazing,” he said a week after breaking the record. “A lot of my teammates knew that I would break it. They knew I was a hard worker, so they pushed me and motivated me encouraged me to break it. They put the confidence in me.”

A runner since 7th grade, McFarland came close to the record several times last year and had a feeling it was within his sights when he prepared for the Oakland University Elaine Leigh Elite Invitational on Friday, April 22.

“I knew going into the race I was going to go for it,” he said. “But it was tough.”

It is that competitive spirit that gave his teammates confidence to break what has been “an elusive” record for the program, said coach Megan Berry.

“He's a very determined athlete,” she said. “I think he rises to the occasion of competition.”

This determination is indicative of the entire team, which is now pursuing its third straight perfect season and longstanding record of 14-0 that goes back to 2018.

“It’s become a motto of the team right now - keep the streak going,” Berry said.

For McFarland, the team’s success is the result of Berry’s confidence in her runners.

“She is always motivating and always pushing them to the next level,” he said.

While the record is now broken, McFarland is continuing to look to the new challenges in his future – including breaking his own time in the 800 meter. An athletic and academic standout, McFarland plans to pursue a major in computer science when he graduates in 2022. However, he will continue to compete in track and field and running will continue to help define his future.

“I love the sport,” he said. “You can say I’m faster than this person or I’m slower than this person, but when you actually race them it could go either way. It is all about your determination to win, your racing ability or just how much you really want it.  It’s really representative of your skill.”

Original source can be found here.