Beyond the Finish Line: What Track & Field Taught Me About Heart, Unity, and Unspoken Bonds
By: Justin Bradley | Sportzwire | May 14, 2025 | Photo courtesy Justin Focus Photography
Scranton, PA -- I never ran a leg in a relay, never launched off a starting block, never raked a pit after a long jump attempt. Track and field wasn’t part of my athletic past—yet over the past two seasons with Sportzwire, I’ve been front and center, camera in hand and eyes wide open, fully immersed in a sport that continues to surprise and inspire me.
I’ve covered countless in-season meets and stood in the heart of the action at the District 2 Championships, and what I’ve come to realize is that track and field is unlike anything else. Sure, the competition is fierce—athletes giving their all in hopes of shaving off tenths of a second or adding inches to a mark—but what truly defines this sport isn’t found in the times or the distances. It’s found in the moments between events.
It’s in the inner circle gatherings where athletes from different schools sit side by side, not just teammates. They share snacks, trade stories, and talk goals. It’s laughter over peanut butter sandwiches and respect that stretches far beyond the measuring tape. There’s a sacred kind of camaraderie here that I haven’t seen elsewhere—where competitors are also friends, and rivals become each other’s loudest cheerleaders when it’s go-time.
Track and field teaches grit, no doubt. But it also teaches empathy. Whether it’s an athlete finishing last but getting the loudest applause, or a competitor helping someone up after a fall, this sport proves over and over that heart matters just as much as hustle.
And maybe that’s what struck me most—track and field isn't about just winning medals. It’s about pushing your limits while pulling others with you. It’s about finding purpose in the grind and connection in the chaos. And for someone who never laced up spikes, I now see this sport not just as an event, but as a movement.
