Track and field hosts first home outdoor meet of the season

After traveling all around the country last week including trips to California, Indiana, and parts of Michigan, the track and field team will host it’s first outdoor meet of the season on Saturday.

Director of track and field Willie Randolph says one of the advantages of a home meet is being able to sleep in your bed.

“To be able to be on your home track and sleep in your own bed is a comfort thing,” Randolph said. “It’s a confidence builder, because you know the lanes, and the ins and outs of the facility. It’s the team’s first dress rehearsal for the Mid-American Conference championships, it’s exciting.”

Central Michigan is expected to compete against seven other schools including Michigan State, Saginaw Valley State, Detroit Mercy, Calvin College, Alma College, Aquinas and Davenport.

Momentum has been building for the track and field team for awhile now. Last week saw 11 career best efforts in three different meets.

With the MAC Championships two weeks away Randolph is excited for the momentum that the team has been building.

“Momentum is building up as you can see from the last week or so,” Randolph said. “The team is starting to come together, you see the distance team, sprinters, hurdlers, and field team all coming together. The groups will compete with each other for the first time since indoor track, that is what you want for an elite unit.”

There have been many pleasant surprises this year for the track and field team but Randolph feels that there are two specific athletes that have stood out.

“Ryan McCullough is one male that is standing out so far,” Randolph said. “He has had an consistency of throwing very far every meet. For the women’s it’s Holly Anderson. She has gotten a few school records, and now you expect a school record or a good mark, and you weren’t expecting that last year. It’s a pleasant surprise because you didn’t see this coming last year.”

As the season winds down there are still goals that Randolph would like to see the team achieve this season.

At the Lyle Bennett Open it’s staying consistent.

“We want to be relaxed, focus, and execute.” Randolph said. “It’s been a whole team goal all year, just execution. Focus in on your body training, the confidence is growing because they know it’s there now. We want to go out there and truly believe as a family and as a team.”