Two Bedford athletes, senior Jessica Lin and junior Carter Rauch, have finished an incredible indoor winter track season, resulting in new school records and a trip to Nationals, and they are now primed to continue their success in the spring season.
Both athletes competed at the New Balance Nationals at THE TRACK at New Balance in Boston in March. Lin placed 18th in shot put with a throw of 34 feet, 11 inches and Rauch placed 56th in the 400-meter competition, clocking in at 51.97 seconds.
Senior indoor track captain Jessica Lin is proud of her individual performance as well as how the team competed as a whole. Along with being awarded Dual County League all-conference honors, she broke the Bedford High School record for shot put. She describes that moment as “a huge accomplishment for me – it’s something that I will always cherish. It was a testament to our hard work, dedication, and team spirit, and I am grateful to have been a part of such a talented and motivated group of athletes.”
Jessica appreciates how the track team is a close-knit community where everyone is supportive and is there for one another. She says being a part of the Bedford High School track team “has also helped me develop a strong sense of pride for my school. There’s a certain sense of unity that comes with representing something larger than yourself.”
As a captain, she has become a leader and exemplifies hard work and dedication, and represents the best image of herself, the team, and the school on and off the field. Jessica offers younger athletes the following advice: “Focus on the journey rather than the destination, never stop learning, stay focused on their own progress and not get too caught up in comparing themselves to others.”
Jessica is committed to continuing her track and field career at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, next year.
Carter Rauch was also recognized as a 2023 DCL All-Star. As a runner, Carter describes himself as hardworking, consistent, and focused. His favorite events are the individual 400-and 800-meter runs as well as the 4×800-meter relay. His favorite moment of the winter season is tied between qualifying for Nationals for the first time, and his 4×800-meter team breaking the school record.
The Bedford High School Track community was described by Carter as fostering a “good environment where everyone pushes each other to be the best version of themselves.” Some of his goals for the spring season include continuing to break even more school records in his individual races as well as with his relay team.
BHS assistant indoor track coach and head coach of the girls’ outdoor team Rich Donnelly is very enthusiastic about the spring season, as well as what is in store for both of these incredibly talented and tenacious athletes.
Coach Donnelly says both Jessica and Carter are “good examples of steady diligent work over the course of a few seasons” and this season it has really paid off in a tremendous way.
“They represent the strongest parts of the team,” he said.
He adds that this has been such an exciting accomplishment for both of them and that for the spring, they are on pace to have the opportunity of breaking more school records.
Regarding Jessica, BHS head indoor track coach and head boys’ outdoor team coach Joseph Pike is looking forward to her continuing success and being able to show her dominance and versatility in the outdoor season by being a triple-threat thrower competing in discus and javelin, along with shot put.
Loading ...
