By Neal Johnson
The men’s and women’s track and field teams competed in the NCAA Division lll Indoor Track and Field Championship hosted by North Central College in Naperville, Ill. this past weekend.
On the men’s side, senior Marcus Smith placed the highest on the team, finishing in second place in the triple jump.
Smith registered a score of 50’ 4”, just shy of the school record of 50’ 4.5”.
Junior Cory Zaeske put forth a strong performance during the Championships.
He finished third in the long jump on Friday, and he felt the team performed to its expectations.
“I personally think we could have done better with a few tweaks here and there, but overall I’m very proud of our team and of the result of the meet,” Zaeske said.
Zaeske thinks the outdoor season will be more advantageous for athletes on the team in their respective events.
“I prefer to long jump outdoors better and high jump indoors better,” Zaeske said. “The weather can really affect the high jump if it’s too cold or too rainy, but for some reason, weather just doesn’t bother me in long jump outdoors.”
“My goal as an individual is to be an All-American in both events, the high and long jump. This team is coming together very nicely, and the chemistry is great. Top three in the nation sounds great, and isn’t far from our reach.”
For the women, sophomore Lexie Sondgeroth and junior Melanie Pilon earned All-American honors on Friday.
Sondgeroth took second in the long jump registering a score of 19-0.75.
“I feel I performed very well, and I am satisfied with my standings,” Sondgeroth said. “I pride in the sixty meter even though I didn’t make the finals.”
Her second place finish earned her repeat All-American recognition that she received last season.
Sondgeroth is looking forward to outdoor season, and she has a list of goals that she would like to see herself and the team accomplish as a whole.
“I prefer competing outdoors personally, because it’s a much better environment and easier I feel,” Sondgeroth said. “My goals I have for outdoor season is to getting higher than five in conference as a team. I have set a goal to break the school records for the 100, 200 and long jump.”
Pilon finished in eighth in the pole vault with a score of 12-3.5.
She became the first Warhawk woman to earn the All-American honors in the pole vault event.
Next up, the men’s and women’s teams will be competing in the Viking Olympics at Augustana, in Rock Island, Ill., March 23rd.
