Written by Sarah Kyle
Harding University’s sprint team is making its way to the top this season, with the 4X400 team provisionally qualifying at last Saturday’s Bison Invitational on Ted Lloyd Track.
The achievement is not something to be taken lightly, according to team member Frank Bolling, who runs the first leg of the race.
“It’s been six or seven years since Harding’s had a sprint relay team qualify,” Bolling said.
The team qualified with a time of 3:14.67, a time which Bolling said hopefully will be cut down by up to two seconds at next weekends Kansas Relays.
“We’ll be fresh then and we’ll only be running relays,” Bolling said. “So we’re looking to drop one and a half or two seconds off our time.”
Success will depend on each individual’s own progress, according to Bolling, who said that the team must work together to individually excel in order to better the team.
“It’s always exciting because it’s not just an individual, it’s a group of guys working together for a goal,” Bolling said. “If one person doesn’t do their job then the whole team fails. So it’s just really cool that we’re all doing well and peaking at the right time.”
This year’s 4×400 team is unique in that in consists of a runner from each classification: from youngest to oldest. From freshman Kory Howard, sophomore Milton Stewart, junior Blake Arnold and Bolling, a senior, the difference levels of experience throughout the team makes for a unique chemistry, according to Bolling.
Team Member Bios
1stLeg: Frank Bolling
Age:22
Classification:Senior
Major/Activities:Preaching and Business Management
Track History:This season will mark his fourth year running track.
Personal Record in the open 400:49.8 seconds
Q:When you aren’t running the quarter, do you lean more towards the sprints or distance?
A:“Not really distance, but not really sprints either. I’ve been training specifically for the 800, and lately I’ve been training with the sprinters to get a little speed in.”
2ndLeg: Milton Stewart
Age:20
Classification:Sophomore
Major/Activities:Business Finance, Spiritual life director of Gamma Sigma Phi
Personal Record in the open 400:49.4 seconds
Q:How long have you been running?
A:“I have been running since my mom took me to the doctor as a baby to ask what was wrong with my feet and legs, and why I was still so clumsy at the age when most kids start walking; the doctor simply said ‘He’s a runner.'”
3rdLeg: Kory Howard
Age:18
Classification:Freshman
Major/Activities:Preaching
Track history:Has been running since the 7thgrade.
Personal Record in the open 400:49.3 seconds
Q:What’s the difference between your training in high school and your first collegiate season?
A:“Its weird because it’s more relaxed but at the same time it’s a lot more difficult. The workouts are ridiculous, trying to keep up with Blake and Milton. It definitely creates faster improvement though, having people that are a lot faster than you to run with.”
4thLeg: Blake Arnold
Age:21
Classification:Junior
Major/Activities:Exercise Science
Track history:Has been running since his senior year of high school.
Personal Record in the open 400:48.3 seconds
Q:Why run track?
A:“I like the competition. I’m an adrenaline junkie, so the competition is really nice. But it also promotes a lot of good discipline and is promoting a pretty good work ethic and helps out with staying in shape.”
