By Derrick Smith

Athletes have to prepare themselves physically for their competitions. But the preparation changes depending on what sport is involved. While a football player will spend a lot of time in the weight room, golfers need to be on the golf course to become better golfers. 

For track athletes, like Max Clark, their preparation involves a lot of running, among other things.

“I have put a lot of hard work in to get where I am today,” Clark said. “I have also ran a lot of miles. But it is what I need to do in order to be my best.”

Max is a sophomore at Coweta High School. Along with being a member of the cross country team, he runs the 400m, 800m, 4×200, 4×400, and 4×800 relays for the Tigers track team. Outside of school, he is also a member of Broken Arrow Lacrosse, which is a youth lacrosse club. 

He first began running track at Coweta when he was in the seventh grade. One he started, he fell in love with it and has not looked back since.

Scott Chronister, who is the track coach at Coweta, says that Max has show a lot of improvement over the past few years and he expects his talent to keep improving.

“I tell my junior high kids to work hard and enjoy track, Chronister said. “Max is a prime example of that. He was a late bloomer, he grew about six inches or so in the last year. He has put in the work through that time and he is starting to see the results. I know he will continue to only get better over the next few seasons.”

There have been many people that have been a part of Clark’s life throughout his career, but he says that there is one person that has had the biggest influence.

“Wayde van Niekerk is my biggest role model,” he said. “He taught me to listen to my coaches and trust what they have in store for me.”