When the school day ends, the hallways of Abington Friends School are mostly deserted. But a group of students stick around Student Street, waiting for their practice to begin. The AFS indoor track team meets at Student Street at 3:40 after school to practice.
In the early days of the season, practice consists of what Assistant Coach Lisa Treadway-Kurtz calls “Building a foundation… [which] enables team organization, leadership discussions, and the ability to come together and do a warmup.”
Warmups are heavily dependent on the weather, and the point of the season the team is in. Warmups typically include a short jog, followed by dynamic stretching. General practice is dictated by events.
Gabe Anderson ‘29, who is a sprinter for the team, said his early season is “Mainly strength and conditioning. Building a good base for my body and myself.”
Once the season is in full swing, however, practices look different.
“As the season progresses… we go into technical and skill work. Less volume, less reps, but higher intensity, and really [focusing] on form,” said Anderson.
As a sprinter, Anderson’s warmup looks very different from a distance runner.
“I run really far to build up my endurance,” said Ryan Brinkerhoff ‘28. “Sometimes I do speed workouts to build up my speed, but most of the time I am running for… around 5 miles every practice.”
All of the practices happen either in the hallways or outside on the concrete path because AFS does not have a track, indoor or outdoor. There are competing opinions on the team on whether or not the lack of a track hinders the team.
“Not having a track not only makes it harder to practice, but [I think] it makes the injury and the pain level worse,” said Anderson. “[Running on] concrete, even if that’s not the cause of [injury], does not help.”
Gio D’Amico ‘27 took a slightly different opinion, however, saying “I think we’ve been able to adapt as a team to not having a track, but still getting good work in. Obviously having a track would be better, though.”
Coach Kileigh Kane took a stance similar to D’Amico. “It will be snowing soon and we [wouldn’t] be able to use an [outdoor] track anyways… I don’t think it holds them back as much as they think it does.”
Some of the key meets on the indoor track schedule are the Ocean Breeze Invitational, the Friends School League Championships, the PIASAA State Championships, and Nike Indoor Nationals.
“Whatever [the athletes] goals are, those are my shared goals as well,” said Head Coach Masai Pines-Elliot. “Whatever they want to do, that’s what I want them to accomplish.”
AFS indoor track kicks off their season at the Lawrenceville Opener Invitational on December 3, and their full schedule can be found on the AFS website.
Augusto Q • Dec 11, 2025 at 9:39 am
Running Indoor Track at AFS certainly is not an easy endeavor. Though I am not currently on the team this year, I had been in the three years prior and I must say it is, though rewarding in community, it is a true test of one’s fortitude and work ethic. Be it snow, rain, or hail, nothing impedes the evolution of the Track Team likewise, the nature of the season brings frigid, cold air, the kind that so often burns your chest when deeply inhaled on runs: a stark contrast to the warm, embracing nature of the AFS Track Team I have always known. No matter the circumstance, I can safely say that anyone who should choose to participate in Track will feel supported and valued, both on and off the track. Be that in the form of new and lasting friendships, or dedicated coaches and staff, it is surely an experience that merits the renown and respect it so often garners.