Written by Eli Dean // Photo by Macy Cox

The men’s and women’s track teams are hitting the ground running as the season gets ready for its conclusion. Both teams find themselves in the national rankings for Division II and looking to end the year strong. The men’s team is ranked fifth nationally by the United States Track and Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association and set two NCAA provisional marks won in seven separate events this past weekend at the Rhodes 7-Way Meet in Memphis, Tennessee. One of the provisionals was in the 4×100-meter relay with fifth year senior Krishaun Watson, fifth year senior Will Meredith, senior Tad Kirby and fifth year senior Dakarai Bush finishing in first with a time of 40.89 seconds. Bush said he is confident of his group and the rest of the team’s ability to have high placements the rest of the way, with the goal being to place at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in May.

“We are doing way better than last year, and I can tell that we as a team are going to place pretty high at nationals,” Bush said. “We had a mindset change, and we all want to improve and win more than ever.”

Junior Antiwain Jones ranks second nationally in the high jump with a height of 2.20 meters. Jones said the team is focused and ready to encourage each other through the finishing touches of the season.

“There have been ups and downs this season,” Jones said. “As a team we are staying strong while motivating each other to keep pushing through any adversity that comes our way.”

As for the women’s team, they have had similar success this year as well. Currently ranked 15th by the USTFCCCA, the Lady Bisons look to increase their provisional numbers and continue to seek better results individually and as a team. Junior Hazel Jackson placed sixth in pole vaulting this past weekend at the Rhodes 7-Way Meet and said she is ready for the rest of the season.

“This season is going very well for not only me but the rest of the pole vault squad as well,” Jackson said. “I am really excited for the rest of this season as I am hitting some big numbers in the weight room and moving up to some really big poles.”

The teams will split up for this weekend, with some members going to Fayetteville, Arkansas, for the John McDonnell Invite on the University of Arkansas campus and others going to the Alumni Classic in Jonesboro, Arkansas, on the campus of Arkansas State University. The Great American Conference Championships are May 1-3 in Magnolia, Arkansas, and soon after, the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships will take place May 23-25.