Coming off a season full of personal bests, postseason qualifiers, and a growing team, the DC indoor track program is heading into the 2025-26 season with optimism, motivation and plenty of goals. Under Head Coach George “Doc” McFarland and Assistant Coach Lloyd Hill, the squad hopes to build on last year’s momentum and compete strongly in every meet. 

Despite being small, last year’s team proved that size doesn’t determine success. Many athletes improved their times, and a few performers even qualified for impressive postseason competition: seniors Marielle Clayton, Makiyah Keys and CJ Simbiri made the cut for the Meet of Champions at Lehigh, and CJ even advanced to the prestigious Nike Indoor Nationals. These achievements helped build confidence and set the tone for what can be achieved.

However, the 2025-26 season also has its own set of challenges. With a former assistant coach departing, McFarland and Hill are recalibrating what they have. Still, returning members, coupled with plenty of underclassmen, hope to show that the program is still strong through perseverance and determination. 

This year’s roster—a combination of distance runners, sprinters, and field-event athletes— is already discovering that their training is paying off: “Since the summer, we’ve been putting in a lot of work,” explained senior sprinter Amiel Harris. “I feel faster already, and I’m looking forward to improving a lot this season and preparing for spring track.” 

On the distance side, senior Jonas Ma emphasized teamwork as the driving force behind the team: “We know that indoor track can be tough, and isn’t always as fun as outdoor track, but when everyone's backing each other up, it keeps us going.”

In addition, senior shot put thrower Jess Cooper is excited about a plethora of younger athletes joining this season: “It’s great to see a lot of new people. I think we’ll be a strong contender this season.”

In fact, this year’s team will get to test its mettle in an early-season event, the Christmas Invitational at Lehigh University, on Thursday evening, December 18, setting the stage for what participants hope will be a stellar season.

In contrast to its outdoor cousin, indoor track requires adaptability: tighter tracks, difficult breathing conditions, and long days. Still, the Knights know that these challenges will only strengthen their bond. With a combination of experienced seniors, improving underclassmen, and a staff who's committed to athletic and character development, DC’s indoor track team is heading into this new season prepared and hungry to elevate their performance yet again.