Izzy Torio ’21 began running track in middle school after not being allowed to play tennis.
Izzy Torio ’21 returned to Andover Girls Track & Field for the second straight year after first beginning the sport in sixth grade. At Andover, Torio typically runs distance events, such as the 400-Meter Dash, the 4×400-Meter Dash, and the 800-Meter dash. In addition to her speed, Torio is also a supportive teammate who works hard to encourage her teammates, according to Alex Fung ’21.
Fung said, “Izzy is a really great teammate to everyone. I always hear her cheering on others, and she keeps things positive even when we aren’t doing well as a team.”
For her versatility and positivity, Torio has received this week’s title of The Phillipian’s Athlete of the Week.
Why did you start track?
I actually wanted to play tennis originally that spring, but [my middle school, Pike], wouldn’t allow any sixth graders to play tennis, so my friends convinced me to sign up for the track team. Honestly, it’s the best decision I have ever made.
Do you consider running a part of your life, or just more as a sport?
I’ve always just ran for fun. I actually didn’t do track my [Junior] spring here. I kind of took a break and came back to it, so it hasn’t as big a part of my life.
If you could enter into the world of any movie, and be the main character, what would it be?
Probably one of the Disney movies. Maybe Mulan, that would be really cool. I feel like it would be so fun being with all the other characters too.
Who has influenced you the most in track?
Definitely my middle school coach at Pike. He really motivated me to just give it my all.
What’s your favorite thing about the team here?
My favorite thing is the sense of sportsmanship that everyone has, the respect that everybody has for each other. No matter what event you do, whether you’re really good at it, or just new to track, everybody is so nice and welcoming, and they always cheer you on. I think that the team spirit is really great.
What do you do when there is bad weather?
We run through all bad weather. It was pouring rain the other day, and we still did all our normal track workout outside. We practice through all types of weather.
Do you like long distance or short distance better?
I’ve always been more of a long distance person, but I haven’t really had much experience with short distance. I would be open to trying it though!
What is the hardest part of the 400-Meter Dash for you?
The hardest part of the [400-Meter Dash] for me is probably the last leg, especially going into the last turn because that is when you start to lose steam. You start to get tired and you have to mentally sort of push through that barrier. The last 150 [meters] is also really challenging just trying to get through it physically.
Do you have a favorite lane to race in?
I like one of the middle lanes, because if you start too far back you have to catch up, and if you start too far ahead you feel sort of on the outside.
Do you have a certain routine before races?
I usually just try to get a lot of sleep and drink a lot of water the night before, and then I take a few deep breaths before the race to try to calm down a bit.
What is your most played song currently?
Probably “Hope” by the Chainsmokers. I’m into more upbeat music, so something just like that.
How do you see running impacting the rest of your life?
It’s something that I want to continue doing for the rest of my life , whether it’s competitively or just to stay in shape and have fun. I think it’s a really important skill, and I hope it’s something that I will be able to do for a very long time.
