The track and field teams’ season began last Friday with a meet at Arkansas State University on Jan. 24.
Junior distance runnder Dallis Bailey did not compete in the first meet, but said he looks forward to the rest of the spring season.
“I would have to say that it is not so much about going and trying to beat everyone else on the first meet,” Bailey said. “We are a very young team, so this is the first collegiate meet for many of our runners. This meet is a good indicator of where we are at in our training and how to get better.”
Sophomore sprinter Stephen Hedlund reflected on competing in the Texas Lone Star Conference last year and how that affects the track team’s approach this season.
“It was definitely a realization that we needed to step up our game,” Hedlund said. “It’s one of the hardest track conferences in Division II. (Head) coach (Steve) Guymon has redesigned our workout to push us harder and drive us further.”
Senior sprinter Landon Belcher said he hopes what he accomplishes while competing provides opportunity to share his passion with other teams off the field.
“I hope to maintain a level of competitiveness along with the other members of my team,” Belcher said. “And I hope in doing so that level will provide a rapport with the other teams so that we can talk with them and be able to share our faith. It’s taken me four years to realize that track is a mission field in itself.”
The track and field teams’ overall goals for this semester, according to Guymon, are to place in the top half of the Lone Star Conference, qualify as many individuals from the team as possible to the national level, set more records and gain as many all-conference performances as it can.
Hedlund pointed his and the teams’ goals back to what he believes are the purpose of track.
“We hope to be known as disciples of Christ who happen to be good runners and not good runners who happen to be disciples of Christ,” Hedlund said. “Ultimately we pursue excellence in our events to honor him.”
