Winter Track Parades Through "The Palace"

For the first time in seven years, Big Red’s track and field team held a home meet on Saturday. The team has been unable to use the Thompson Cage for recent years, but welcomed the eagerly-anticipated “Palace” as its new practice and competition site.

"After two hours of warm up performances, speeches and thanking donors, the gun blasted and athletes burst into the first race."

In a departure from its typical prep school meets, PEA hosted several Seacoast public schools from the area including Exeter, Oyster River, Portsmouth, Newmarket and Winnacunnet High Schools. Exeter’s track stars woke up before 9 a.m. on the first morning of this “low homework weekend” to commence the day with the official opening ceremony of the William Boyce Thompson Field House. After two hours of warm up performances, speeches and thanking donors, the gun blasted and athletes burst into the first race.

The boys’ 4x800 relay kickstarted the meet with the most exciting race of the day. Battling for the lead, upper Miles Mikofsky, senior Greg Zhu, and lowers Jinwoo Kang and Will Coogan sprinted every drop of sweat out of their bodies. Running as the third leg, Kang secured the team’s second place, prompting the final leg to snag the winning spot. As soon as Kang handed Coogan the baton, he strode the team up to victory in the mere four laps of his leg. In his last 50 meters, Coogan went neck and neck with Exeter High School’s runner. Coogan pumped his chest across the finish, the first Big Red win to go down in the field house’s history.

Carrying on the boys’ success, the rest of the team clocked in great times.“We were able to honor and remember past Exonians who competed in track and then we contributed to that history,” Hock said. “We also had a couple PRs (personal records)  at the meet, so it’s a very fast, flat track.” Upper Andrew Liquigan PR’d in both the 60 meter finals and the 300 meter dash. Uppers Hannah Brown and Ogechi Nwankwoala will be placed in the Academy’s “Hall of Fame” for their notable times in the 60 meter hurdles.

“I think we do a great job of pushing each other and lifting each other up when we race and practice,” lower Sam Chang said, regarding the team’s dynamic. “Maintaining that mindset will be the best thing we can do from here on out.”

Although no official scores were kept throughout the day, it goes without saying that the Phillips Exeter track team was successful and dominant on their own turf. “Just seeing the other teams come to our track and think, ‘Hey, this is our facility,’ was incredible,” Liquigan said.

This Saturday was truly a great celebration in honor of the new building that the track team can now call home. “I think the best part about the meet was the contagious energy and excitement to be competing together at our own place,” upper Grace Gray said.