Women travel to GVSU, Akron as MACs grow closer
The Central Michigan women’s track and field team is inching closer to the Mid-American Conference championships.
But before the team gets there it has two more weekends of invites to get through in an attempt to strengthen their scores and add some more confidence going into the conference championships, scheduled for Feb. 25 and Feb. 26 in Bowling Green, Ohio.
This weekend, they will head to Allendale for the Big Meet at Grand Valley State University, scheduled for Friday and Saturday. The throwers will not take part, and instead travel to Akron to see some conference competition.
“Every meet at this point is important," said track and field director Willie Randolph. "It’s just a reality that we need to maintain and keep ourselves ready for what is important in two weeks."
Randolph's message to the team is to remain focused on obtaining their best scores and be on top come the conference meet.
“Focus is always a worry for any coach when we get closer to the end and the pressure and intensity picks up,” Randolph said. “We’ve worked too hard to forget about all the fall workouts. The day we didn’t get what wanted, as far as losing MAC championships by seven points, and (we've) come too far to let somebody else take away our hard work.”
Pressure is big right now seeing how the women are a young team. That is where their senior leadership comes into play, as distance runners Raeanne Lohner, Danielle Dakroub and thrower Whitney Johnson provide a big boost for the team and their development.
“We’re getting ready for MAC, seeing where we are at now and putting it all together this week,” Dakroub said. “(There isn't) any more pressure, just enjoying it and seeing our training pay off”
“It will be our last chance to look at everything and see if there are any changes needed to be made," Lohner said. "There is no added pressure."
The women are looking forward to the MAC championships and are doing all they can in order to improve their scores and better their chances of redeeming their second place finish last year in the MAC Indoor Championships.
“I’m excited just because our team took a lot of steps forward last season almost winning (MAC),” Dakroub said, "and this year we’re more confident and excited to put it all together."
“That is when you want to perform your best. Everything before is qualifying for nationals," Lohner said. "But the MAC is most important. That is what you gear up for"
