Published January 29, 2025
BY DANIELA FOLEY
After realizing his passion for track, Carmel High School senior Maddox Zarazua has taken time outside of the high school season to train track athletes based on their personal goals to help them succeed and beat their personal records.
Zarazua formed a team this winter and has worked intensely with each individual runner to achieve faster times and longer endurance.
“Through that goal setting, we have pushed each other and joined a track club that has helped us improve,” explains the senior runner.
Working out daily, the runner was able to achieve his goal of breaking 12 seconds in the 100-meter dash with a personal record of 11.78 seconds. After extending his training by joining the Central Coast Track Club, Zarazua had the opportunity to put his improved skills to use by competing at the USA Track & Field Junior Olympics and reaching a PR of 11.6 in the 100.
As his running times continuously dropped, other track athletes looking to get in shape for the spring season became interested in his techniques for success with the similar goal of qualifying for the California State Winter Track & Field Championships.
Zarazua trains a small group of distance runners and sprinters alike, encouraging many to join Central Coast Club to increase their training.
CHS junior Connor Bone was one of those runners inspired by Zarazua’s success. In his sixth year of running, he is the fastest 100-meter sprinter in the Gabilan Division with a personal record of 11.26 and a 23.34 second PR in the 200.
“I train with Maddox because he gives me the ability to push myself in competitions and he knows a lot about the theory behind sprinting, so I have a little guidance in that way,” says Bone.
Similarly, junior Lila Glazier, a distance runner, began training with Zarazua and joined the Central Coast Track & Field Club, obtaining personal records of 5:35 in the mile and 11:48 in the 2 mile.
She says, “I have been able to push myself and get good speed work while training with him, and doing different types of workouts than I had done previously.”
With spring season around the bend, Zarazua and his fellow winter runners hope that their extra effort helps them excel.
