Name: Mike Supple
Sport: Track
Grade: Senior
Events: 200m, 400m, 4x400m Relay
Recent Performance
The winter track season is underway, with Supple participating in three events in the team's first two meets on March 11, and on Wednesday afternoon. Against, Teaneck, Tenafly and Bergenfield, Supple contributed as the last leg of the 4x400 relay. At Thursday's meet, Supple ran a 54.1 second 400m and a 24.02 second 200m.
Winter Track During COVID-19 Pandemic
In a normal year, the winter track team would travel to meets and compete indoors against several teams at once, however due to the circumstances surrounding COVID-19, the team is competing at much smaller meets at outdoor venues.
"Meets are completely different," Supple said. "They are [more similar] to spring [track] meets where it is all outdoors, you just go to a track outside and run, rather than the traditional invitational [meet] at The Armory where there are [about] 20 teams there."
The Armory in New York City is one location where the team usually competes during the winter. Clearly, the location of the meets is far from the only difference between this season and Supple's previous seasons with the team.
"[The meets] go by a lot faster this year because there are only two or three teams rather than [around] 20," Supple said.
Although meets take substantially less time in 2021, Supple would still rather compete in larger meets the way the team did before COVID-19.
"I probably liked [meets] better last year, because [there was] more competition," Supple said.
Supple's Expectations
Even though he has "time goals" that he set for himself, many of Supple's expectations are based on the intangibles.
"[My goals are] to just do my best at every meet, win as many races as I can, and really just be in charge of the team and make sure everyone knows what they are doing," Supple said.
Being a team captain, Supple is learning certain leadership skills, and taking charge both on and off the track.
"For underclassmen, [I] really have to watch them because they don't know what they are doing [because] it is not a traditional winter track season," Supple said. "It's really different, and this is their first high school track experience, so it's going to be crazy."
In addition to helping out the younger members of the team, Supple understands the importance of leading by example.
"I just have to be the best and set a good example, [not] go easy on workouts and [other things at practice]," Supple said.
Competition in Track vs. Competition in Football
Participating in both winter and spring track, Supple leaves the fall sports season open for football, where he received significant playing time in his senior season, even making some big-time plays for PV.
Supple believes that both track and football are competitive in their own ways, but he gives football the edge when it comes to level of competition.
"[Track and football] are both fun and competitive in different ways," Supple said. "Football is probably more competitive most of the time because it's competitive every play and in track, [I] have to compete for under three minutes total per meet."
Cancellation of 2020 New Balance Nationals
In March 2020, Supple was a part of Pascack Valley's sprint medley relay with Andrew Martinez, Oren Roznitsky and Eddie Mercurio, all of whom graduated in 2020, with the exception of Supple. The foursome qualified for the New Balance Nationals before the event was cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns.
"I just felt like it was kind of crazy, like 'Why are they cancelling this?'" Supple said. "It's Nationals, the biggest event in high school track. We were training for this."
Even after the New Balance Nationals were cancelled for the winter season, Supple was still hopeful for the 2020 spring season prior to its cancellation as well.
"I was [thinking] 'Oh, well at least there will be a spring [National meet]' but then spring track never happened."
Supple was able to take away an important lesson from the cancellation of Nationals and his junior spring track season, a lesson that is magnified with the pandemic.
"It really made me be grateful for every meet we get [this season]," Supple said. "[I] don't take anything for granted."
Best of Both Worlds
Supple enjoys having the ability to compete, but also spend quality time with his teammates, having both a competitive and relaxed nature on the track.
"I like how track is competitive, but there is a certain spot that is competitive," Supple said. "You can win and do a good job, beat your personal best, and also most of the time you can just joke around with your friends and just chill out."
On the track team, the ability to "chill out" with teammates comes naturally, with the team being so close due to the size of the team in the winter season.
"For track, there are less people so you can get closer to [each of] them," Supple said. "There are less seniors this year than usual, so we know each other better.
The track team is able to work hard and have fun during practice as well, with the team having such a close relationship.
"There are a lot of funny moments at just practice, a bunch of inside jokes," Supple said. "[On] every bus ride, [at] every practice, there's always something to laugh about."
Pascack Valley Community
At Pascack Valley, Supple appreciates the good-natured staff and students, and is grateful for the help that everyone is willing to give.
"I really like how all the teachers are out there to help you," Supple said. "All the students are always helping each and lending a hand to people that need it."
Role Models
Supple cites his coaches and his parents as his role models, as they have taught him valuable lessons in life.
"All my coaches and parents [tell] me the right thing to do and [guide] me when I need it," Supple said.
Future Plans
Although his decision could change, Supple is currently not planning on running track in college. He has not decided which school he wants to attend, but he knows he will major in Environmental Engineering.
"I've been thinking about [running track in college], but as of right now, [I'm not planning on it]," Supple said.