Imagine running down the track and the end of your 400 meters ready to pass the baton on to the next person in your 4 by 400 relay, tired and in so much pain. Now imagine doing pirouettes and leaping across stage to beautiful music with the spotlight on you. These activities sound very different, almost as if they’re done by two separate people, and while a lot of times this is the case, Paige Albright ‘23 participates in both from jetéing in dance to jetéing over hurdles during track.
“For track, I like it so much because of the accomplishment I feel,” Albright said. For her track is a place where she can feel proud of all the things she has done, and enjoy her teammates.

Albright does both school track and field and Iowa speed. She competes in multi-events, 400 hurdles, and the 400 meters along with other events. “I really like the 4 by 4 because, everybody is running a 400 so everybody feels the same pain, they die together.”
Albright does Iowa Speed Track as well as normal school track and she mentioned just how nice the atmosphere is and how encouraging the coaches are. “One of the directors, Ms. Heather Woody, she’s like one of the nicest people ever. She’s so motivational,” Albright said.
Albright thinks that everyone should try Iowa Speed out because of what a great program it is, “If you do like track, I would definitely recommend it.” Albright mentioned that some of the big Iowa speed meets have college coaches there who can see you and also you get trained very well.

Along with running track for both school and Iowa Speed, Albright dances with Nolte Dance Academy. “ I could do it for hours and not get tired or bored,” Albright said. Dance is a place where she can express herself and have fun.
Albright’s favorite styles of dance are contemporary and modern. To her they are different from the traditional ballet, and very enjoyable to her.
When asked which was harder track or dance Allbright had a hard time deciding, “In track you use the big muscle groups. So on your body, it’s taxing and stuff. And It’s also really hard to do mentally, but it’s just like, you have to have a strong mind to be able to do it.”
In her opinion track is harder for some reasons but dance is also difficult for others. “Dance hours go a lot longer than track,” Albright said. Another challenge she mentioned was technique and also inclusivity in the dance world. “Track is more accepting where like, if you’re fast, like, if no one can deny that. So like if you’re a good dancer, it depends on the person you’re asking,”
Albright, although only a freshman is considering her future, “I’m probably going to dance in college, but I’m more focused on running in college right now, like running track in college. But I definitely want to continue dancing my whole life, because they have adult classes.”