At the Chris Rinne Invitational, the University of California, Riverside’s (UCR) freshman sprinter Michael Petrick ran a personal best 200-meter dash in 21.6 seconds. This impressive feat was a season best for UCR’s men’s track team and currently sits at tenth best all-time in the program’s history.
Petrick’s personal record earned him UCR Student-Athlete of the Week. The Riverside native was fortunate enough to have his family present for the event. He commented on seeing his family beaming with pride: “You can really see it in their faces, you can see their pride … everything has been paying off.”
This meet has been especially memorable because it is Petrick’s first 200-meter since returning from a grade two hamstring injury suffered earlier this season in Reno. Petrick’s first major hamstring injury was tough on his mental health; sitting out of meets frustrated him. He explained that recovering from such a serious injury was like “learning to walk again.”
Petrick started on crutches, then transitioned into walking and jogging before slowly starting to run again. Even then, he was still easing in, taking it week by week before committing to 100 percent effort. Petrick admitted to having to learn to be patient and trust his coaches. “They’ve been around the program since before I was born, so putting my trust in them is probably something I need to work on.”
Petrick has had a history of injuries. In high school, he dreamt of going to college to play football, but he didn’t have that much interest in track. However, an issue with injuries would result in him switching gears and focusing on track. This dedication certainly paid off.
When asked about the culture of UCR’s track and field team, Petrick shared that the team feels like a big family. The team welcomed him with open arms and treated him nicely and respectfully. Petrick appreciated that his teammates have been very supportive of him. Petrick mentioned junior Jacoby Madise as someone he could look up to and take inspiration from.
Both sprinters are familiar with injuries, and Petrick remarked, “If he can push, I can push.”
Moving forward, Petrick strives to set more personal records and contribute to the team more. He aims to do well in the upcoming meets and get into a good position for the upcoming Big West Championship. Petrick noted that he wants to be the best he can be and is determined to push everyone to do their best. He admitted to being very competitive and is driven to “keep going and pushing for number one.”
