Track and field program prepares for outdoor season

Photo by: Henoc Kivuye

 

The track and field programs completed the indoor season in 10th and 16th place respectively at the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Indoor Championships.

The teams look to continue their momentum as they start off their outdoor season March 13 by capitalizing on key performers, while relying on the overall team’s efforts to break personal records.

“I think we are prepared and will do well,” Gonzalez said. “Everyone just has to work hard and do his or her best. That’s all we can ask. I think we will be more competitive this season. Going to some Division II meets last year we didn’t know what to expect, but now that we have our feet wet I think we’ll do better.”

Gonzalez is not the only Lady Eagles athlete looking forward to the outdoor season’s start.

“I think for the next couple of weeks we are working extra hard, and preparing as best as possible with the weather we have been provided and looking forward to what we can become,” senior Somer Helms said. “We have a great team and I’m looking forward to seeing what our team can do this season.”

The men’s team has also been preparing for the outdoor season, with a few Eagles standing out from among the crowd.

“I think Larry Brown is a great athlete; he puts so much thought into his technique and is always working hard to improve,” Gonzalez said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what he is going to do in the outdoor meets this season.”

Brown is a returning All-American and a top hammerhead thrower for small colleges. Brown finished 7th this spring in weight throw in the NCCAA Indoor Championships.

According to Gonzalez, junior Katie Ostlund and her sister, freshman Miranda Ostlund, are making an impression too.

“I think the Ostlund sisters are going to be good ones to watch,” Gonzalez said. “They are both determined athletes, and are determined to do their best this season. They also have a lot of experience in their events – so they can only get better.”

Katie Ostlund holds a spot on an elite list of female athletes through the track and field program. She is one of three Oklahoma Christian women to have won a national title in a track and field event. She is also a two-time All-American in the javelin, winning nine javelin competitions during her two seasons.

The Lady Eagles’ relay is also making a name for itself with senior Wilmina Gley leading the relay team.

“Gley has really stepped up and taken a good role in the relays,” Helms said. “She is a great runner and she pushes the rest of the relay team to always be working hard to improve. I’m excited to see how she does this season.”

Gley is one of four women on the 4×400-meter relay, and she helped lead her relay team to finals in the NCCAA Nationals during the indoor track and field season.

Both the men’s and women’s squads are already pushing themselves to improve their times and places from last season.

“I am concerned about being prepared for the most part,” Helms said. “We have been working extra hard to make up for what we have not had a chance to do outside, and with the weather constantly changing having a steady practice schedule has been a challenge.”

The winter weather has proved to be an inconvience for the track and field team in the past, forcing the athletes to move practices indoors to the Barn or cancel.

“The weather has been a big problem for us this year, but we are still working around the weather and we are still working hard,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez plans to use the lessons learned from both the success and trials from the indoor season and apply them to the March opener.

“There’s always something more I can do to improve, but I am just hoping for the best,” Gonzalez said. “I just have to stay hungry every time I go out to throw so that I can I improve my throws. I will definitely have a better season than last year.”