Antonio James - Impact Sports - Spartan Sports Like Never Before

Spartan Sports Like Never Before

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Antonio James

Spartans Return from NCAA Outdoor Championship

Spartans Return from NCAA Outdoor Championship

Jun 24

In a sport like track and field, you win some and you lose some. In a place like Eugene, Ore., home of this year’s NCAA Outdoor Championship, it is hard to not go in with high expectations.

Michigan State track and field saw five of their top athletes take on the nation’s best this past week at the Outdoor Championship. Junior Leah O’Connor was the star of the week, with a well-planned first place finish in the 3,000m steeplechase on Friday. Since her last visit to Eugene for the 2013 Outdoor Championship, she has made it her goal to stand on the podium and take part in the “victory lap” tradition.

And Then There Were Five

And Then There Were Five

Jun 06

Michigan State track and field just got a lot smaller after this past weekend’s NCAA Eastern Regional meet in Jacksonville, Fla.

The team had five athletes place in the top 12 of their event to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championship in Eugene, Ore.

Qualifiers include Antonio James in the shot put and discus, Leah O’Connor in the 3,000m steeplechase, Tori Franklin in the triple jump and Rachele Schulist in the 5,000m. Kurt Schneider previously posted a qualifying mark in the decathlon.

Spartans Head South and Think Straight before Regionals

Spartans Head South and Think Straight before Regionals

May 29

Classes have been out for a month, but Michigan State track and field is still hard at work.

The team has been in Jacksonville, Fla. for the past week, preparing for the NCAA Eastern Regional meet that will take place this weekend.

Skilled thrower Antonio James does not put it lightly when asked what it takes to do well in this meet.

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Progress Made and Lessons Learned for Track and Field

Progress Made and Lessons Learned for Track and Field

May 19

The way head track and field head coach Walt Drenth sees it, having a presence is better than none at all.

The Spartans ended their weekend at the Big Ten Outdoor Championship with a total of 10 medals and lessons learned. The women finished sixth with a total of 85 points and the men finished 11th with 37.

Spartans Looking to Fill Gaps at Big Ten Outdoor Championship

Spartans Looking to Fill Gaps at Big Ten Outdoor Championship

May 16

Spartan track and field is heading to Indiana to show the Big Ten the progress they have made in the short months, since the conference last convened in early March.

After an arguably more successful, but scattered, outdoor season than indoor season, the team is looking to fill the gaps they left open and have since filled since the Indoor Championship.

Track and Field Sees Progress over the Weekend

Track and Field Sees Progress over the Weekend

Apr 21

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.

Track and Field Stays Home This Weekend for Spartan Invite

Track and Field Stays Home This Weekend for Spartan Invite

Apr 06

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.

Spartan Playbook: Weight Throw – Antonio James

Spartan Playbook: Weight Throw – Antonio James

Apr 02

MSU track & field’s Antonio James teaches how to become an expert in the weight throw. When it comes to these events, James takes it to another level.

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Spartan Playbook connects sports fans to the most high-profile athletes at Michigan State University. In each episode of Spartan Playbook, the most strategic moves in each sport are explored.

Spartans Return from NCAA Indoor Championships

Spartans Return from NCAA Indoor Championships

Mar 19

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.

Six Spartans Head to the NCAA Indoor Championship

Mar 14

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.

Track and Field Returns from Indoor Championship

Track and Field Returns from Indoor Championship

Mar 02

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.

Track and Field Coming off a Great Weekend

Track and Field Coming off a Great Weekend

Feb 22

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.

Last Leg — #2 — 2/12/14

Last Leg — #2 — 2/12/14

Feb 13

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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Track and Field Break Records at Meyo Invite

Track and Field Break Records at Meyo Invite

Feb 10

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.

Spartans Head to South Bend for Meyo Invite

Spartans Head to South Bend for Meyo Invite

Feb 07

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.”

Spartans Travel to South Bend for Notre Dame Invitational

Spartans Travel to South Bend for Notre Dame Invitational

Jan 24

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.