Michigan State track and field head coach Walt Drenth has said that the sport does come with many surprises; it is all about waiting for a breakthrough.
This weekend, MSU track and field saw some of the breakthroughs they have been waiting for (and needing) since the indoor season.
For most athletes, the “home court advantage” saying is tired and true. But for MSU track and field athletes, they only get one chance to reap the benefits of their own facilities.
This weekend, MSU’s track and field program welcomed close to 1,200 athletes at the Spartan Invite, with competition taking place at Munn Field, Jenison Field House and Ralph Young Field.
A little altitude never hurt anybody, right?
When it comes to running and competing altitude can definitely be a factor and something that six MSU track and field athletes had to face this past weekend at the NCAA Indoor Championship in Albuquerque, N.M.
By looking at their times and marks you would think that the athletes had an off weekend, but track and field is not about winning and losing. Rather this weekend was about handling adversities and spotlighting some things to work towards in the upcoming outdoor season.
This weekend, six Spartans will find themselves among the sun and mountains of Albuquerque, N.M. for the 2014 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship, hosted by the University of New Mexico. Being held on Friday, March 14 and Saturday, March 15, MSU will be represented in seven different events.
The team is taking twice the amount of athletes as last year, and Antonio James and Tori Franklin are the only returnees. Head coach Walt Drenth cites a growing number of athletes who have matured and made a lot of progress over the course of the year.
Unlike many sports, a track and field meet is often over a two-day period. This can mean two different mentalities and two different outcomes.
This weekend at the Big Ten Indoor Championship, MSU track and field played with these changing mentalities. The women finished in seventh and the men not far behind in eighth place. The team earned nine medals total and broke seven school records.
After a very successful campaign at the SPIRE Invite last weekend, MSU track and field is looking to use that momentum this weekend and in the upcoming Big Ten Indoor Championship.
“We saw a group of individuals with a great deal of purpose and as a result the outcome was pretty favorable…just an all around great performance,” assistant coach Randy Gillon said.
Have you ever wondered how to do the weight throw? Or what throwing athletes are like? Well, even if you didn’t, show host Alexa McCarthy gets some insight on the throwing events portion of track and field.
In part one of a two-part series, she talks with new throws coach Blaine Maag about what his plans are for the MSU throwers. She also talks with Antonio James who is ranked No. 3 in the NCAA for the weight throw. Hear about how he got started in the sport and some of his past and present pre-meet rituals.
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As MSU head coach Walt Drenth said, the team’s goal each week is, “simply choosing to compete.”
With three records broken and a slew of great performances, the Michigan State track and field team was nothing short of true competitors this weekend at the Notre Dame Meyo Invitational.
After an unexpected cancellation of last weekend’s meet, the Spartans are ready for some competition. MSU’s track and field team will head back to South Bend, Ind. this weekend for the Meyo Invitational. The competition will start on Friday, Feb. 7 and will continue on Saturday, Feb. 8.
“This is a big invitational as far as the country is concerned.” MSU head coach Walt Drenth said. “This is a good test of where we stand, as far as our [team members] in the national rankings and also the people we think can score in the Big Ten and to see some elite competition.”
After kicking off their indoor season at the Grand Valley State Bob Eubanks Open two weekends ago, the Michigan State track and field program is heading to South Bend, Ind. on Saturday, Jan. 25 for the Notre Dame Invitational.
The team has already showed several great performances, posting 13 individual wins at their first meet of the 2014 season at GVSU. The team took primarily sprinters, jumpers and throwers.