RHS SPORTS – Liv-ing up the moment: How Yuong shines for Revere track

By Dom Nicastro

  What hasn’t junior Liv Yuong of Revere done on the track this winter season? We’ve reported on her amazing achievements previously:

• Greater Boston League (GBL) Track Athlete of the Year
• GBL champ in all three of the events she competed in.
• Her season PRs include 9.57 in the 55-meter hurdles (lifetime PR), 5 feet in the high jump, and 15-10 in the long jump (school record).
• Competed in two pentathlons this year and is only 200 points away from the school record in this event. Improved by almost 50 points in the event score from December to February.

And now we hear from the decorated student-athlete herself in a Q&A:

Advocate: Liv, could you share with us the journey that led you to become the GBL Track Athlete of the Year? What were the key milestones and challenges you faced along the way?

Yuong: Throughout my track career, I have learned new techniques and training methods that have helped me reach my goals as time went on. With the fast progression of personal records, I faced a few minor injuries that led to a couple of off meets. Overall, I believe that the milestones and challenges I faced helped push me toward a path of success.

Advocate: How do you balance the rigorous demands of your training schedule with your academic responsibilities and personal life?

Yuong: My academic responsibilities take precedence over everything else. If I can’t maintain my academic standing, I won’t be able to perform at my highest level on the track. I think understanding this fact has helped me balance every aspect of my life.

Advocate: Who has been your biggest inspiration in track and field, and why? Are there any professional athletes or mentors who have influenced your approach to the sport?

Yuong: My biggest inspiration in track and field would be my sister, Soleil Yuong. My sister went to Revere High School also and was on the outdoor track and field team. She is now throwing at the collegiate level at Vassar College as a recruit. Her participation has exposed me to the sport that I wasn’t sure I would even enjoy. Before track and field, I was strictly a level 7 gymnast. Covid detoured my athletic career, so I took a step back from gymnastics and upon entering high school I explored track and field as a potential option. Of course, I stuck with it!

Advocate: You’ve achieved remarkable personal records this season. Can you talk about the technical aspects of your training that have contributed to your improvement in events like the 55-meter hurdles and the long jump?

Yuong: My main event is the high jump. It is a very technical event that requires constant repetition and physical demand. This is the event that I am most proud of. Slowly as my track career progressed, I felt the urge to branch out into other events like the multis. The multi events would be the pentathlon (five events) during the indoor season and the heptathlon (seven events) for outdoors. Training for the multis requires a lot of attention to detail in either five or seven events depending on the season. High jump is included in both, so are the hurdles and long jump. These are top-scoring events in the multis so getting the training down for these three events in the multis has really helped me improve in the individual open events.

Advocate: Being part of a team can be a unique experience. How has being a member of the Revere High School track team influenced you both as an athlete and a person? Yuong: Although every event is an individual event, we are scored as a team. So the points we accumulate individually tally up together to determine a team winner. Whenever I am at a meet, I compete against myself and try to improve upon my own personal record, and I compete to garner as many points as I can for the team. Nothing is more satisfying than winning as a team.

Advocate: Competing at such a high level requires not only physical but also mental strength. Can you share how you prepare mentally for a competition?

Yuong: In order to mentally prepare to perform before each event, I like to listen to music and zone out. I focus on the music and my movements as I continue to warm up and nothing else. Music really helps me focus up on the events that prevail.

Advocate: Looking ahead, what are your goals for the rest of junior year then your senior year and beyond? Are there any specific records or achievements you’re aiming for?

Yuong: There aren’t any specific records that I have in mind. When I compete, I don’t think about breaking records. I focus on only competing at my highest level and nothing more. For the rest of junior year and following into senior year, I hope to have new equipment that will help me train and reach my potential. Our high jump facilities, though working in some aspects, still lack a lot of necessary equipment needed for me and my teammates to succeed. For example, a springboard and a larger high jump pit would overall contribute to training at a higher level. Beyond high school, I hope to pursue my athletic career at the collegiate level.

Advocate: Earning the title of GBL Track Athlete of the Year is a significant achievement. How does this recognition affect your motivation and goals moving forward?

Yuong: I love the recognition I’m receiving, and I would like to thank Coach Racquel and Coach Fleming for helping push my name so I can receive this award. As I move forward in my track career, I will continue to do the same and give the same effort I have been putting into this sport before earning this title. I believe it is a great personal achievement; however it does not affect my own thoughts and effort within the sport.

Advocate: What advice would you give to younger athletes who look up to you and aspire to reach the level of success you’ve achieved?

Yuong: I don’t believe I am at that status. However, I would tell them to just have fun and do your best. That’s all I have to say.

Advocate: Away from track and field, what are your interests and hobbies? How do you like to spend your time when you’re not training or competing?

Yuong: Away from the track, I enjoy eating out and spending time with family and dog Lucy.

Advocate: You’ve been described as one of the most coachable athletes. How has your relationship with your coach(es) contributed to your success?

Young: Coach Racquel and I are very close. She has helped me explore new events and trained me to achieve my goals. We both have a lot of feedback about my training and my success, and we are open with each other when it comes to that. I think our open communication is an important part of our relationship.

Advocate: Can you talk about the support system that has helped you throughout your athletic career? How important has the support from your family, friends, and community been to your success?

Yuong: My family offers a lot of support in my athletic career. They have always pushed me to reach the highest level of success I can and have given me the opportunities to do so.