Chase Porter
Staff Writer
For some, running track and cross-country is tortures conditioning, especially when it comes to the 400 meter dash, which is considered one of the hardest races.
On the other hand, for senior Landon Massey this race has become a walk in the park.
“I love running because I like competing,” Massey said. “It keeps me in shape and I can set goals for myself and try to reach them.”
For Massey, a track career did not start at a young age; in fact he started running track and cross-country during his sophomore year. After quitting basketball as a sophomore, he began running and by his junior year he was on both varsity track and cross- country.
Despite only being on the track team for two years, Massey has managed to make a name for himself as a dominant distance sprinter. Last season, Landon and the rest of his relay team made their way to the Texas Relays in the Distance Medley Relay (DMR).
Last year was also the first time for Massey to run the 800 hundred-meter dash, and he managed to gain an incredible time which was under two minutes in a district meet. This year, he is shooting for the school record 800 hundred time which is currently held at one minute, fifty five seconds and 6 milliseconds.
Besides just the 800-meter dash and the 400-meter dashes, Massey also runs the 400-meter relay. His relay team members include juniors Derek Udeh and Brandon Sanders and senior Austin Crawford. Even though Massey enjoys running the 400, he prefers the relay because of the team aspect and the 800.
Before competing in one of these races, Massey prepares mentally and physically.
“I prepare for a race or meet physically by drinking lots of water the day before and the day of the race,” Massey said. “Also I usually try to shoot to get in bed by 9:30 the night before, also a couple of days before I try to load up on carbs like pasta and light foods. I prepare for the race mentally by listening to music most of the day while I’m waiting. I try to stay relaxed and calm during the day and not think about it much. I listen to calm music like Christian and country during the day and before I race I switch over to more upbeat, fast pace music.”
In addition to preparing himself for these strenuous races, Massey has had an active attempt to be a leader for the underclassmen during practice and warming up before meets.
“Being one of the three seniors on the team and being one of the two seniors that compete in running events, I try to sent a good example for the underclass men on the track and in the weight room,” Massey said. “As much as track is an individual sport in some races there is still a team aspect to it.”
Udeh, along with many other members of the track team, believes that Massey serves as a leader and encourages everyone to run faster and work harder.
“Landon is really fast and he works hard,” Udeh said. “He leads warm ups and he’s always at the front during group runs.”
Massey and Sanders both agree that they will be tough competition for the others schools in the upcoming weeks.
“Every time we run our goal as a relay team or individually is to decrease time and I believe that we’ve prepared well enough so that when we get on the starting line we will definitely be able to make better time,” said junior Brandon Sanders.
After Massey’s final races this year, he will be taking his talents to Nacogdoches, Texas to run track and cross-country for Stephan F. Austin University. There, he plans on competing in the same races he has been running for these two years here at CHS. For now, though, Massey is just trying to improve and hopefully break the 800 record that he has been chasing.
