A Historic Season for Riverdale Varsity Indoor Track
After a hard-fought and clearly dominant season, the Riverdale Indoor Track team closed out their season with a boys and girls sweep of the Ivy League Prep Championships. A week later, at the NYSAIS Championship, the boys’ team carried their momentum into the meet, delivering another great performance to secure the NYSAIS title. The girls’ team also had an incredibly strong performance at the meet, adding a second-place NYSAIS finish to their already decorated season. The team also had a record number of athletes attend the NY State Federation Championships (Feds), three we chatted with to learn about their experience this season.
Among them is sophomore William Alexis, who delivered an exceptional performance at the Ivy Championship—finishing 3rd in the boys’ 55-meter dash, 3rd in the boys’ 300-meter dash, and contributing to the boys’ 4x200-meter relay win at Ivys. Reflecting on his races, Alexis remained focused yet determined: “I just tried to stay calm and run my best. Felt good out there, legs were moving, and everything just clicked.” Beyond the competition, he credits his teammates for his motivation. “My friends push me the most; they make practice fun,” he added.
Alexis’ fellow teammate, and junior MVP, captain Alex Kho spoke about his mindset when competing and his thoughts on why the team had the great success that they did. Kho had an outstanding performance at the Ivy League Championships, taking 1st place in the triple jump, 1st in the 4x400-meter relay, and 2nd in the long jump. For Kho, the key to success isn’t just individual effort, it’s the entire team coming together. “The biggest thing is team effort,” said Kho. “Our coach is super supportive, he’s been tracking all our scores and knows we have what it takes to win. Now, it’s up to us to execute since a lot of it comes down to how we support each other and what we bring to the table. We all need to realize that and give it our best.” When asked about his mindset going into competition, Kho stated: “I got that dawg in me.”
On the Ivy winning and second-place achieving girls’ track team, we interviewed junior MVP Vivien Ostfeld, who won the girls’ 600-meter, 1500, and 300 at the Ivy League Championships. Additionally, she won the 600, the 4x800, and the 4x400 at NYSAIS, securing a double win in the 600-meter race for the third consecutive year. Like Kho, Ostfeld described how “every individual team member’s contributions have been essential to our success this season.” She explained how “the outcome of championship meets comes down to as little as one point, so every point counts, regardless of where it is scored. It could be one of thirty scored by an individual or one of one. Yet, they are all of equal importance.” In preparation for her meets, Vivian’s training strategy this season focused on long-term endurance as her competition schedule extends into July. “A big part of early-season training is base building—strengthening aerobic capacity that will last throughout the season,” she explained. “I started adding more speed and speed endurance closer to a championship season. I tapered in the few days leading up to meets to make sure I was feeling 100% on race day.” Beyond the physical preparation, Ostfeld emphasized the importance of mental strength, especially as the competition level increases. “At smaller meets, I’m used to being out front, setting the pace, and focusing on time. However, at the New York Federation’s championship (a different and more prestigious competition than NYSAIS) I was lining up against the ‘big dogs,’ and it was hard to feel like I belonged up there. But then I remembered, I didn’t get there by luck—I worked for and earned it. No matter who was in front, behind, or next to me, I gave it everything I had.” That mindset pushed her to become the fastest 600-meter runner in NYSAIS history by four seconds when she placed fourth in the NY State Championships a few weeks ago.
Despite competing in different events, all three athletes’ dedication, hard work, and team-oriented spirit fueled both their personal success as well as the success of the team as a whole. Their commitment to improving, along with their ability to push through adversity, played a critical role in these achievements. The team’s accomplishments at both the Ivy Championships and NYSAIS Championship highlight the team’s collective effort, with every athlete playing a crucial role in their success. As the season comes to an end, the athletes and team have shown what can be achieved through teamwork and determination, setting the stage for even greater success in the years ahead.
