By Richard Wehman
Special to the Denisonian
While most Denison students were relaxing at home or catching some sun on a tropical beach this spring break, the Big Red track & field team concentrated on starting their outdoor season on a positive note. Both the women’s and men’s teams traveled to Atlanta, Ga. to compete at the Emory Invitational.
The two-day event at Emory University for the women’s squad had its fair share of ups and downs, but was proven to be an extremely positive experience for the team. Rookies Hannah Hall ’18 and Allison Pineault ‘18 were responsible for all 13 of DU’s points.
While the women got to compete against some brilliant teams, they also had an opportunity to heighten their training. “We got in a really intense week of training in great weather, and spent some quality time as a team. The Denison women’s track team has a great outlook for the rest of the season”, said middle distance runner Kate Benson ’16. The Big Red placed 21st out of 27 teams and feel the Emory Invite was an extremely beneficial tool to prompt a successful spring campaign.
The men’s team utilized the Emory Invitational as an opportunity to compete against some of the elite teams in the country as well as establish some camaraderie among the squad. Byran Fowler ‘16 paced the Big Red with his second-place finish in the javelin (143’11”). All American Wallace Branche ‘16 swiftly transitioned to the outdoor season after a breakout indoor season. He placed third in the triple jump with a mark of 45’9. 75”.
Aside from strong performances by some of the Big Red’s finest, the spring break trip proved to be an extremely positive one off the track. “The Emory trip really allowed us to spend quality time with one another absent from school work and other time commitments that we are constructed by on campus”, sprinter Quenton Richards ’16 said.
With the team chemistry and determination to get better, the Denison Big Red men are poised to have success this outdoor season: “We’re ready to bring this program to a more competitive level in the conference standings and we have to do that by increasing the intensity and commitment to our training, and always holding one another accountable”, sprinter Lucas Romick ’16 said.
Unfortunately, both the women and men’s teams’ meets at the Carnegie Mellon Mini Invitational held in Pittsburgh, Pa. were cancelled this week due to inclement weather.