This week’s senior spotlight is on senior and star track runner Mason Gill. Mason has competed and lettered at the Varsity level for Track and Field for all four years of his high school career.
Although currently uncommitted, Mason plans on attending the University of California, San Diego in the fall.
For his freshman year, Gill initially saw track as an opportunity to skip the required physical education courses, however, he started to realize that he was good at short sprints and began to fall in love with the sport.
Gill then started to amp up training during the summer, hiring coach Ian Jennings to help him achieve faster times.
Gill however had a setback during the beginning of his sophomore year with a hamstring injury, but through resilience he got back into shape and was able to finish out the season, starting most races in varsity. Gill also earned the most valuable player of the South Coast League for Sprints in his sophomore year.
Gill recalls that his junior year was filled with great memories, especially from the Earl Ingman Invitational Event. In the four by 200 relay, Gill was blown away by how much faster his team had progressed from the season before, showing how Mason is willing to put his team in front of himself.
Pertaining to his character, he has strived for excellence in character off of the track as well. Gill earned the Esprit de Wolverine for Geometry, an award for outstanding leadership character, and excellence. Additionally, Mason also volunteers at the Second Harvest food bank in Orange County and is a member of the California Scholarship Federation To finish off his junior year, Gill set his own personal record in the 100 meter race at the South Coast league finals.
When asked about what advice Mason has for the future of the program, he replies, “The program is great, all of the coaches are understanding and will look individually about your situation and help you. It is great for people of all skill levels if you want to get active.”
Mason has aspirations to major in bio to go into pre-med, in which he has plans to work on a professional team in the field of sports medicine.
Typically before a meet Mason drinks lots of water and a banana to avoid cramps before he runs. When asked about what song hypes him up the most, he responded with “Loyalty” by Kendrick Lamar.
Track teammate, Jacob Ricker, shares, “He listens to all of the coaches very well, and copies the exact movements and mechanics in which they teach. He is really fast and super encouraging.”
Gill said that he will miss the track practices and spending time with friends the most.
“All of my friends are great and fun to hang out with during practice, it truly makes memories that I will cherish for a long time,” says Gill.
As the season is not quite over yet, Mason set a goal of running at least an 11.1 in the 100 meters and a sub-23 second time in the 200 meters.
Mason is recognized for his dedication and achievement to the Track and Field team as well as his leadership and academic willpower in the classroom.
