Though the Titan track and field team may be in a transitional year, coach Guy Murray still expects success in competition.
“We are a little bit between generations,” said Murray. “Neither the men’s or the women’s teams are the deepest we have had.”
Regardless, Murray wants a lot from his seniors, who hope to finish their careers with strong performances.
With the underclassmen, he looks for improvement and personal development week to week.
“As individuals develop, so does the team,” said Murray. “With a small school like us, sometimes rebuilding takes a couple years to get the pieces back in order.”
Even in a rebuilding year, there is much to look forward to with the Titans.
“Ben Kendall is off to his usual fast start,” said Murray.
Distance is the strength of the men’s team, in large part because of Kendall.
The Huntington Woods junior set a personal record in competition at Grand Valley State, running the mile in 4:13.
The coming weeks will be big for Kendall as he looks to lock in his best times.
On the women’s side, Devon Sutton, Samantha Zakalowski and Ashley Bayles have stepped up.
Both Sutton and Zakalowski are running great and keeping the team competitive.
Bayles has rebounded from an injury and looks as if she will be at her best for the Horizon League championships, Murray said.
The Titans want to make noise in certain events.
“The women’s sprint group is our deepest event,” said Murray. “We have some depth and quality.”
The team has done a lot to prepare to succeed in this national meet.
“We build the workouts so the athletes improve over the course of the season,” said Murray.
The meets for the track team are much like tests you take in class, with the practices being your study sessions before an exam.
The Youngstown National Invitation over the weekend was a test run to see where the Titans could improve before the final meet.
Kendall turned in a silver medal performance, recording his best Detroit Mercy time in the 3000 meter.
