Aaron Johnson – Sports Editor
The Southern Connecticut men and women’s track and field team opened up the 2014 indoor season ranked 14th and 21st, respectively. Both teams have strong rosters with a nice mix of veterans and newcomers as they prepare for the start of another season.
One of the newcomers to the track this season is Kahlil Smith. Smith, who did not compete in any meets last season, said that he ready for the opportunity to run.
“This offseason we did a lot of background training,” he said. “We also did a lot of weight training and going in as a freshman on the track doesn’t mean anything; I know I have to go out there and grind.”
Coach John Wallin’s squad is bringing back a number of key members from last season’s team including two-time heptathlon national champion Nick Lebron.
Lebron, who was just named one of five team captains for this season, is looking to win his third heptathlon national title in four years. Smith said the team’s goal is to get back to the big meet by year’s end.
“We want to get more guys to nationals,” he said.
Seniors Tresley Dupont, Jimm Guerrier, Michael Lee, and sophomore Dean Bhatt were also named captains along with Lebron. Smith said he is excited to compete and knows that his teammates are ready to also.
“We get more competitive as we get into the season,” he said. “Yelling and pushing for each other and supporting each other.”
For the women, this season will give a new opportunity for several returning to get to a national meet. Junior Ariana Rivera said coming into this season she is excited, especially after all the hard work the team put in during the offseason.
“We have a really strong team this year,” she said. “It’s just all the preparation and everything we’ve been doing since September. We’re finally competing so it feels good to not just be practicing all the time.”
Although the Owls are ranked in the top 25 in the country at number 21, junior Georgette Nixon said the ranking really is not what is important and the team still has to go out on the field and perform.
“It doesn’t mean anything because that can change,” she said. “And it will change. We are all just mentally there.”
Rivera, who is coming off foot tendonitis in an injury-plagued 2013 season that sidelined her for most of it, said she agrees and the Owls will succeed this season regardless of where they are ranked in the polls.
“Last year we were such a smaller team,” she said. “A lot of girls couldn’t compete because of injuries and NCAA stuff. But this year we have everyone back and everyone is full force and ready to go.”
Similar to the men’s team, the women’s track and field team is very competitive and works hard to drive each other to succeed. But they also enjoy having a little friendly competition amongst themselves. Nixon said the team is a close knit group, but that the friendly rivalries are there to give each other that push if need be.
“On competition day it’s like ‘I love you’ but,” she said with a smile. “On our workout days we go two-by-two so we’re like racing each other and it’s helping us to really push each other at the same time.”
Going into the season, the sky’s the limit for both teams. Nixon said the women’s team is focused on doing well in all the major meets.
“We’re trying to,” she said, “get as many people to nationals as possible.”
