It's Friday, and so ends the Songs as Poems edition. We decided to close with one of our favorite alternative indie rock bands, The New Pornographers. Their song "The End of Medicine" is aptly complex and full of very poetic lyrics. Look inside for a new and interesting take on the war and to enjoy the greatness of The New Pornographers.

With a full year left in his high school career, junior Malcolm Taylor already holds the school records in the 400 and 800, and he anchored the relay teams that hold the school-best times in the 4x800 and 4x400. Now he's looking to win medals at next week's state meet, where he can firmly establish himself as one of the state's elite runners. Jack Snyder spoke with Taylor earlier this week and came back with this interview.

Throughout the boys track season, senior Frankie McFarland has been throwing impressive distances in both the shot put and the discus. McFarland joined the team last season after the baseball program was canceled, and he quickly made an impact in field events. He now holds the school records in both throwing events. Jack Snyder talked with McFarland earlier this week as he prepared for sectionals. Learn more about the king of Uni field events.

[AUDIO included] For the third straight year, Alex Zhai is one of the top 12 scorers on the United States of America Mathematical Olympiad exam. The USAMO is the next-to-last step in the process of selecting the six U.S. team members for the International Math Olympiad, "the world's toughest math contest." The 12 USAMO winners will take a final test June 7 and 8 to determine who makes the six-member U.S. team that will compete in the 49th IMO, scheduled for July 10 to 22 in Madrid, Spain.

Senior Ruthie Welch ran the 11th-fastest time this morning in the 800-meter state prelims, qualifying her for Saturday's Class A championship race. Welch ran the two laps at O'Brien Stadium in 2 minutes, 21.81 seconds — faster than her winning time at last week's sectional meet but slower than her personal best, set at Monday's News-Gazette honor Roll Meet. The top 12 runners out of a field of 31 this morning advanced to the finals.

[UPDATED with tennis sectional results] This afternoon, senior Ammar Rizwan and junior Richard Wang will represent Uni in the IHSA Urbana tennis sectional. Their appearance in the IHSA postseason culminates the first year of Uni's tennis club, sponsored by chemistry teacher David Bergandine. Sophomore Chris Yoder has been a club member from the start, and he offers a first-person look at this group of dedicated athletes.

"I have been dissatisfied with my body since the first snide remark about my round stomach was cruelly made to me in fifth grade, and I have a strong feeling that I am not alone," writes Anna Cangellaris. Oh no, you're probably thinking; not another rant about distorted body image. "Don’t sigh and close your browser window just yet," Anna continues. "I have a few variations and musings on this subject to divulge."