Last weekend, 28 track and field athletes traveled to Birmingham, Ala., to compete in the Samford Multi and Invitational indoor meet.
Out of 42 schools competing, Harding was one of two Division II schools participating, the rest being Division I.
Head coach Steve Guymon said it was tough competition, but the team did well.
Sophomore Jacob McDonald broke his own personal school record in the weight throw with a new mark of 48 feet, 5.25 inches. The Samford Invitational was his fifth meet in a row to set a new record.
Sophomore Corey Bassett placed third in the final heat of the 60-meter dash at 6.93 seconds, close to beating his personal best record at 6.89 seconds.
Bassett said one of his goals for the spring season is to win conference and go to the NCAA Division II nationals.
“Every time I get on the track I just want to better myself and set a new personal record,” Bassett said. “We have three weeks until the conference meet to better ourselves. As long as we get better each week we will be ready for conference.”
For the women’s team, junior Ewa Zaborowska placed fourth out of 66 competitors in the indoor mile. She finished her mile in 4 minutes 56.25 seconds.
Zaborowska qualified for the NCAA indoor championship and is ranked ninth overall in the Division II indoor mile.
Three female runners received their best times of the season in their events. Freshman Rachael Price ran a 1 minute and 2.72 seconds in the 400 meters, sophomore Tammy Kim ran a 2 minute and 22.01 seconds in the 800 meters and sophomore Kelsey Taylor finished her 3000 meters in 10 minutes and 28.54 seconds.
Guymon said the team is preparing for the conference meet, which will be held in Lubbock, Texas, on March 1-2.
“Conference for track is very difficult,” Guymon said. “We’re hoping to place high as a team.”
This year will be the second year Harding travels to the Lone Star Conference indoor meet. Last year Harding’s women’s team placed fourth overall in the meet, while the men placed sixth.
Guymon said his biggest goal for the team is not about winning but about growing together, creating memories and giving glory to God as a team. He wants the athletes to walk away knowing they did their best.
“This last year we lost a lot of good seniors, so we have to pick up where they left off,” Taylor said. “We have a lot of great people, and this year I hope we do well overall but not get upset if we don’t. Coach Guymon and Coach Phillips do a great job preparing us.”
The track and field team has one home outdoor invitational this season on March 29.
