The women’s track team has broken a number of records this season, according to hardingsports.com. Senior Rachel Roberts, sophomore Kelsey Taylor, and freshmen Kaitlyn Leonard and Amber Webb have broken records in the 4×1600 relay. The relay team finished the race in 21 minutes, 31.34 seconds.
“This season has been so much fun so far,” senior Kristen Celsor said. “There are so many new faces on the track team this year, and it has been such a joy getting to know everyone. Everyone has been performing really well this year. We have already had multiple people hit provisional marks and have people breaking school and personal records at almost every meet.”
Taylor will be running the 5K and the 1500-meter in this weekend’s meet. At her last meet Taylor ran the 5K in a time of 18 minutes, 06.21 seconds, taking second place. She looks to better that this weekend.
“I hope to get closer to a personal best,” Taylor said. “We are all trying to lower our times with conference coming up in three weeks, which is also the weekend before finals. Our team goal for the season would be to be able to perform at the best of our abilities at conference. We mainly want to enjoy our time running with each other and encouraging each other and remembering we are running for the glory of God and not ourselves, but remember how much of a blessing it is to be able to run what we run.”
According to Taylor, workouts have been one of the hardest parts about of the season.
“Workouts hurt,” Taylor said. “A lot of the time you just want to stop. We are at the point now where we feel good but just have to continue to push ourselves and each other and have confidence in what our coach has trained us to be able to do. The team helps so much. Just running with the other girls is so much of an encouragement because it’s not just you out there. Your teammates help pull you along when you are tired or discouraged. Also, Coach Guymon does so much for us to get us ready for races and also talk us through them as we run. None of us would be where we are without his help.”
Celsor also shared how she and the team are staying positive and hope to finish strong for her last season.
“We just have a really motivated, hardworking group, which makes practice and meets exciting,” Celsor said. “Personally, with this being my last season, I am just soaking up my last few meets and really just enjoying the ride. Track is such a fun sport, and I love every second of competing and cheering on my teammates.”
Heading into the meet this weekend Harding has eight athletes who are ranked in the top 100 in NCAA division II. The Lady Bisons have a meet tomorrow at Arkansas State University.
