Name: School: Chandler High School
Your name: Edgar Suarez
Q: What does your training look like right now given the current situation?
A: When I first started hearing that track meets were being canceled on the East Coast, it made me really think what it could mean for me in Arizona. I was thinking that we might actually be able to pull off the Chandler Rotary on March 20-21 and then possibly stop the season. Then, possibly the worst day for everyone, March 12, 2020, every single sporting event was being postponed due to COVID-19. The following day, the Rattler Invite was canceled due to rain, and little did I know that it would be the last time I ever set foot on the track at Chandler High for practice. I still had hope that the Rotary would go on until that too was postponed.
Q: What are you doing to stay busy other than run right now?
A: Being a senior, this has really hurt me physically with me lacking the motivation to keep on training for the return of the season, mentally not knowing if I will ever race again in the royal blue and emotionally trying to stay composed and not panic about what's in store in the coming weeks and even months. I am really trying to stay positive and pray every day that we can get back to running, jumping, and throwing and let the season continue and to finish out the academic school year. Deep inside me, I am happy that I was able to get a few more recovery days to nurse a calf injury but now as I try to get back into the swing of things it all feels really weird. I don't want to prepare for the worse and start saying my farewells to everyone because I wasn't expecting this until early May. The AIA has handled the situation very well and Coach Lincoln has us running either on our own or in small groups to stay in shape. If you told me on the first day of official practice that the season was going to be canceled I would say that you were crazy. As I woke up on March 30th, Governor Ducey, announced that all schools are closed until the remainder of the academic year and that really stung.
Q: Who would you want to thank?
A: I started to reflect upon my time as a member of the Chandler High XC and Track programs. I had the privilege to be coached by Coach Lincoln and he has been a great coach and an inspiration. A special shoutout goes to Mr. Dave Shapiro who works countless hours to help organize regular-season meets, along with cross country sectionals, and state in both track and cross country. Thank you to Coach Richardson for making Chandler Track feel like one big family. I can't imagine how my life would be like if I never joined XC and track. To all my teammates, thank you for being the best group of people around and keep working towards your goals no matter how big they are.