After weeks of timing improvements, setting new school records and personal bests, the men’s and women’s track teams will compete in the first-ever championship meet in the history of the program.
The men’s and women’s track teams will travel to Rio Grande, Ohio for the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC) championship this weekend at the University of Rio Grande.
Head coach Kelly Parsley said the teams will practice on sharpening things up this week.
“We are going to fine tune, keep everything light and no pressure,” Parsley said in an email interview. “We need to do a better job of visualizing and managing our time now more than ever.”
According to Parsley, the whole team will compete at the KIAC Championship meet, but only three can score.
Freshman Amber Brown has a good chance of scoring after competing at Slippery Rock University Dave Labor Invitational on April 18. The sprinter who has continued to run faster weekly had a KIAC best time in both the 100- and 200-meter dashes.
Brown placed eighth in both events and also broke Point Park records, according to the University’s Athletics website.
“There was a lot of great competition; she dropped a substantial amount of time,” Parsley said on Brown’s performance.
Freshman distance runner Eric Torres is preparing to run the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter races at the KIAC championship meet.
“I’m hoping to not die,” Torres said with a laugh. “But to finish the 10K with a decent time, hopefully better.”
Torres ran the 10K for the first time at the team’s previous meet in Slippery Rock. He finished the race with a time of 33:08, coming in first and beating the secondplace runner by 22 seconds. He said he is preparing for the championship meet by getting a lot of rest, training and eating a healthy diet.
“I’m trying not to be so hard on myself during training. I’m just going to get through practices and rest the rest of the day,” Torres said about his preparation.
Falonte Jackson, a freshman sprinter, made his jumping debut at Slippery Rock and set a school record in the long jump. Jackson has recovered form a stress fracture injury and is expected to run and jump this week. For Jackson jumping is easier than sprinting.
“It wasn’t hard at all, way easier than running. It’s just a short sprint and jump,” Jackson said. “Once I get the technique, I’m sure I can go far.”
Jackson now has the Point Park record in the long jump at 6.73 meters.
The Pioneers hope to continue these standout performances and score at the championship meet this weekend.
After the KIAC championship meet, Point Park’s first track and field outdoor season will continue throughout May.
“I’m looking forward to winning, as a team and an individual,” Jackson said.
