Rolling along in January!

By sprints/hurdles coach/recruiting coordinator John Wise

Well, we have just finished our 2^nd indoor meet of the season and while we still have a long way to go we are starting to see what kinds of teams we have this year.

It appears our women are going to be very good.  Every event group looks better than last year.  We didn’t graduate many points from last year (so that’s what we were hoping for) but you never know until the season gets rolling.  We think the MVC is going to be a battle with Southern Illinois again and this year we feel more confident than last year (and we won the MVC Indoor title last year).  Our women easily won our first meet against Sam Houston St, Oral Roberts, and Emporia St and this past weekend beat Alabama, Missouri, Houston, and Air Force while losing to #12 ranked Nebraska.  It was an impressive showing for our ladies and they appear to be coming together as a strong team earlier than we imagined.

The men’s team is a different story but we are hoping for the same result.  Unlike the women, we did graduate several of our top performers last year.  We felt like we had athletes ready to step in and replace many of those points we lost.  We still do feel that way but it looks like it’s taking a little longer to develop than the women’s team.  Also we’ve had some unfortunate injuries and tweaks along the way so our men’s team is not at 100% right now.  The upcoming off weekend should get some of our key guys back into action by our Feb 4-5 home meet.  Everything we are doing as a team is gearing towards the MVC Championships 5 weeks away – so we have time, but we don’t have any time to waste.  Indiana State is looking very good in the early season and Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois appear to be strong again as well.  We are hoping to make it a 4-team race – remember last year our men were picked 4^th in the MVC pre-meet poll and won by almost 30 points.

Up in the office we are recruiting hard.  The NCAA signing period begins in early February and we’ve received several verbal commitments that should sign in a couple weeks.  Just today we had six recruits on campus in six different events, and I know at least one of those recruits reads this blog on a regular basis. J  Other than that it’s just your typical 60-hour work weeks and getting home at 2:30am from long bus rides!

On the recruiting subject – check out our new Virtual Media Guide.  There are several Shocker stars making cameo appearances in pop-up videos throughout the guide.  You can access it through Goshockers.com or click here à http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/384031e7?SPSID=591033&SPID=2843&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=7500#/384031e7/1

Personally, I am really proud of our women’s 4x400m relay, breaking a 5-year old school record this past weekend in winning the adidas Classic.  In the past couple years we have won MVC titles in the men’s 4x1, 4x4 and women’s 4x1 but our women’s 4x4 has struggled to reach that level.  This year looks to be very different and our depth in that event is a key ingredient to their success.  Practices have been very intense and they have pulled together with a common vision.  Look for this group to challenge for that title this year!

Hopefully everyone is having a great start to the New Year!  Let’s go Shocks!

The 2011 Indoor Season is Upon Us

by Jumps Coach Heidi Yost

                January! This means a lot of different things to people… a new year, a new beginning, a time to make changes, to make resolutions and for some… to break those resolutions… but for the athletes at Wichita State competing in track and field, January is the beginning of the Indoor Season. This is when the athletes of the Wichita State Track and Field program get to see their conditioning and specific preparation start to pay off. I can see and feel the excitement building amongst the wonderfully talented men and women on this team. They compete for the first time this year in a Wichita State uniform January 12^th and 13^th in the Heskett Center at Wichita State.

               

                There is still work to do and goals to strive for even though the competitive season is getting under-way. These athletes will continue to train… to master their technique because they know how hard it is to win a Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Championship. A few inches, that’s all that separates the winners from the runner-ups. I have seen the sweat of dedication beading on these athletes’ foreheads. I have seen the agony and frustration that an injury causes and the joy and triumph of recovery. These Shockers know that now is not the time to back off, in fact, they’re ready to step it up, to focus in on every competitor they stand next to. These athletes know how to compete; they know what it takes to battle in a two-day war at the end of February.

                As one of the coaches, I’m excited to watch the Shockers compete. I’m ready for all the challenges and rewards that come with the competitive season. I’m waiting for the nervousness to get to me when a WSU Shocker steps onto the runway or into the throwing ring, gets set in the blocks or at the starting line or attempts a bar that’s a PR. I’m ready for the 2011 Indoor Season!

The Shockers meet schedule can be found on goshockers.com, please come support our Championship Program!!