Little Hawk sprinter Tiara Green is excited. As City High Girls Track prepares for the Forwald-Coleman relays this Thursday, she knows the team is hitting its stride.

“I feel like this year we’ve made a lot of improvements,” Green said. “We’ve won meets that we didn’t win last year.”

The team is off to a good start. Lead by both a strong senior class and a core group of young runners, the team is balanced and deep. Green says they aren’t backing down from anybody.

“Our team’s goal is to come in first overall as often as possible. We want to make it to State and have lots of qualifiers for the Drake Relays.”

Green, who runs in the 400, 4×400, and Sprint Medley for the Little Hawks, is having success of her own. In part due to the cold weather this spring, she hasn’t reached her PR from last year- but that hasn’t stopped her from picking up impressive finishes in the 400 and 4×400. Green says she hopes to reach a 59-second 400 by the end of the season, which would be a new career best for her.

Green transferred to City High last year as a junior from West High. She’s been a part of both track programs, and says this year has been her best experience with the sport yet.

“I feel like we have a team at City,” said Green. “We all get along, and even if we have a bad meet we still feel like a family.”

She says the move between schools was smooth.

“The transition to City High was super easy. I felt like I was at home.”

Green says that while she had a good experience at West High, City High has been the better fit for her. She credits City High’s supportive teaching and coaching staffs as factors that improved her school experience, and notes City High’s strong sense of community helped her feel welcome.

“I feel like the teachers here are very supportive,” Green said. “At West you have support, too, but it’s not the same as City…at City, the teachers really care about you and check up on you.”

The Little Hawks are certainly glad to have Green, who is a key part of both City’s 4×400 and Sprint Medley relays teams. It sounds like the feeling is mutual. Green says track has been a great part of her high school experience, and thinks all students should consider going out for track.

“I feel like you will make a lot of new friends,” says Green. “When you have a good outcome at a meet or you get a PR you feel so good about yourself. It’s like a family.”

Track fans can watch Green and the rest of the Little Hawks this Thursday at the Forwald-Coleman Relays at Bates Field.