‘Supposed to be our year:’ East Dubuque senior hoped to return to state track meet this year

EAST DUBUQUE–East Dubuque senior track standout Mayson Marty was hoping to make a return trip to the state track meet in Charleston this May, but due to the coronavirus pandemic these hopes did not come to fruition like many senior track athletes that hoped to make the trip to Eastern Illinois University’s blue oval.

Marty played volleyball for four years for the Warriors. During her freshman year, Marty also played basketball.

“Volleyball was good this year,” said Marty. “It was one of our best years.”

Marty competed with the Galena/East Dubuque/River Ridge track tri-op for four years, as well.

Marty was able to make it to the 2018 state track meet as a sophomore in the 4x200 relay.

“State track was really fun, it was fun hanging out with all my friends,” said Marty. “One night, there was an open track meet where older people were able to compete. We went to that and some of us even ran in that for fun.”

Marty said she remembers grocery shopping at Walmart, buying many state track shirts and having fun with her teammates and coaches.

“It was fun seeing all the people there and seeing how fast you can actually be,” said Marty.

Marty said the 4x200 team that year almost beat the program record.

Marty really missed track this spring.

“I love seeing all those new people from different schools, I made a lot of new friends, that is my favorite part of track,” said Marty.

During the winter, Marty works out at school or at Planet Fitness in Dubuque with her teammate Brooksey Hudspeth. The two completed workouts assigned to them by head coach David Eaton.

“During track season we ran all the time,” said Marty. “Coach Eaton kept us working all the time.”

Marty said they were excited to learn that the conference track meet was at home and they had a good chance of claiming the conference crown once again.

“We were super excited and we were planning on going to state for all of our relays,” said Marty. “We had really good relays this year. We wanted to win conference and we wanted to win sectionals.”

Marty said she only had one week of practice as she was on vacation during the final week of track practice and when they found out the season was cancelled.

“I was in Florida when we found out that track was cancelled,” said Marty. “We were all hoping this would be two weeks. Eaton always gave us workouts to do.”

Marty said she has been more angry than sad about track season being cancelled.

“This was supposed to be our year for track,” said Marty.

Next year, Marty plans to attend Northeast Iowa Community College to study nursing. Marty already has her CNA license and has been working in nursing homes.