Randolph: We're working on 'personal competition'
The term "competition" can be taken in many ways in track and field.
While an athlete competes against those from other schools around the country, they are also in competition with teammates and, most importantly, with themselves.
This weekend, members of Central Michigan’s men’s track and field team will be focusing on those “personal competitions” as they travel to Allendale to compete in the two-day Grand Valley Big Meet.
The Chippewas will face more competitive competition than they did last weekend at Notre Dame, but the meet is still very important to the Chippewas with only next week’s home meet remaining before the Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships on Feb. 25 and Feb. 26.
“Even though this meet might not be as big as last weekend, any competition is important at this point,” said Willie Randolph, director of track and field and cross country. “We need to remain focused, despite who we’re competing against.”
With the MAC Championships right around the corner, the pressure is beginning to mount for the Chippewas and dealing that pressure is the key to any success CMU will have in Bowling Green later this month.
“We have been working too hard to let the pressure get to us,” Randolph said. “Everyone feels the pressure at this point, and we know that not everyone can deal with it. This is why we have put our athletes in pressure situations before.”
That pressure might not be as high this weekend at GVSU, but Randolph has been stressing all week to his athletes not to overlook this weekend, as every meet they attend has a purpose in preparing the team for the conference championships.
Leading the Chippewas into this weekend’s meet is freshman sprinter Ross Parsons, who will be competing in both the 60- and 200-meter dash and will run a leg of the 4x400 relay. Parsons was by far the brightest spot of last weekend’s Notre Dame meet.
“I’m looking forward to having an opportunity to compete in a two-day meet, because that’s what the MAC’s are,” Parsons said. “This weekend, I want to have three solid races. I really want to have a great 200 — I struggled in that event last week.”
Also important for the Chippewas this weekend will be fellow sprinters Branden Post, Renaldo Powell and Christopher Thomas.
CMU will also need strong performances from jumper Kevin Bacon and Joshua Kettlewell in the pole vault.
Redshirt freshman Tecumseh Adams leads the Chippewa distance runners.
The only members of the team that will not be attending the meet will be the throwers, who have been impressive all year long. They will be attending the Akron Invitational in Ohio.
CMU will also look to junior John Calvert and sophomore Alex Rose to do well in the shot put, while juniors Kevin Mays and Ryan McCullough handle the weight throw duties.
