Whether he’s racing down the red rubber or having his teammates’ back, varsity sprinter senior Austin Diaz has broken too many records to keep track.
Diaz broke the 400-meter record at the Crean Marina Northwood Westminster Quad-Meet on Feb. 22, later sealing his spot as the third all time 400-meter runner at the Triton Invitational on March 15. He was the leg for Northwood’s 4×4 team, which placed first and broke the 20-year standing meet record at the Irvine Invitational.
“You train so hard for it and the pain is to the point where it makes you want to quit,” Diaz said. “But when you get into the moment and collect your medals, it feels like you have completed the impossible.”
Diaz’s achievements didn’t come without hard work. To maximize his speed and energy levels, Diaz reviews his performances through videos after each meet and targets specific skills such as efficient block starting and clean finishes.
“My races are never perfect,” Diaz said. “The 400-meter is not an easy race. But each time I race, there’s always something I can improve and that’s something to emphasize.”
Joining the track team in his junior year after a suggestion from his friend, varsity sprinter Braden Anderson, Diaz quickly made a name for himself through his record-breaking performance and built strong connections with the team.
“He has goals that he always strives for, and does everything in his power to meet them,” Anderson said. “No matter how hard the workouts are, he always finishes them and his times reflect that. My hope is that others can see him as an example and someone that they can base themselves on.”
While it was unconventional to join the team later as an upperclassman, Diaz was able to make the most of his two years on the team and hopes to continue his performance streak and bond with the team.
“We knew we were going to have some quality sprinters last year, but we thought we lacked some depth and he was a real find,” sprint coach Dorian Johnson said. “He’s very focused, very hardworking, dedicated to what he’s doing and those are all great things about a sprinter.
