You think you have “prama” to deal with? Imagine trying to balance the biggest sporting event of your high school season with prom, all in one day.

All members of the girls and boys track teams who qualify for group meets will spend the first half of their prom day in Egg Harbor, NJ (almost two hours away), competing for a state title. For many of these athletes, debating between attending two of the most important events of their senior year is more than a hurdle to get over.
Senior Hannah Hawkins plans to tackle both events in one day. “I would not miss that meet no matter the circumstances,” she said. “If I’m lucky enough to qualify, then I’m 100 percent going. I want to end my track career on a positive note. I’ve put in four years of hard work and I’m not going to give it up just so I can go to pre-prom on time.”
Hawkins and the other track members said they are willing to make the sacrifice in order to experience both. Hawkins is so prepared that she even has two hair appointments based on whether or not she qualifies.
Track and Field Coach Jill Mezzacappa stands with Hawkins and the other girls who desire to compete. “The girls that have worked for four years to get to the level of athleticism that they’ve reached, they wouldn’t trade it for the world and they just make sacrifices,” said Mezzacappa. “I feel that it is more important to them to have their chance to compete.”
But while these track stars are competing, many of their dates could be left to take pictures solo. Said Senior Alyssa Meek about her date, Senior Sid Douglas, who is also expecting to compete on June 4: “I am happy for him that he might get this awesome opportunity…but this is our only prom, and I will be really upset if he misses the entire pre-prom.”
Supervisor of Athletics Ms. Sandra Mamary explained that WHS actually gets little say in planning such events. “It’s up to the state; it has nothing to do with us because every single school participates,” Mamary said. “So if you’re worried about one team’s prom, there’s 370 schools.”
For these athletes, this race isn’t just like any other meet, but an accumulation of everything they’ve worked for. Senior Ryan Siegel said: “If I’m able to get my race in and leave and get to the actual prom in time, I’ll be happy. I think it’s important for me to try to experience both because they are both very important milestones in my high school career.”

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