Track teams prepping for conference
The indoor track and field season nears its end, as the conference meet is two weeks away for the University of Indianapolis men’s and women’s track teams.
UIndy competed in the Hoosier Hills Invitational in Bloomington Feb. 12. Junior thrower Matt Royer placed sixth in the weight throw. The men’s 4-x-400 meter relay team of Jerel Flournoy, Frederick Helm, Nick Brittain and Carl A Smith finished second in the event with a time of 3:19.11.
We’re strong in the sprints. There is no doubt about it.
The teams traveled to DePauw Feb. 13 to participate in the Tiger Invitational. The men won the meet, scoring most of their points in the field, posting 14 top-five finishes and three event wins.
Meanwhile, the women placed fourth of 13 teams.
On the women’s side, the relay teams have scored a bulk of the points.
“We’re strong in the sprints. There is no doubt about it,” said head coach Scott Fangman. “That’s probably where our largest points will be coming from-the 100, 200, 400 and both relays,” he said.
At the Little Giant Invitational Jan. 23, UIndy’s women’s 4×400 relay swept the top two spots. Senior Christina Carrick, freshman Haley Miller, sophomore Madelyn Jermore and sophomore Kaitlin Worthington took first with a time of 4:06.07.
“These meets [the Little Giant Invitational and IWU Track & Field Invitational] are kind of prep meets. The tale of the tape will come in conference,” Fangman said.
However, Fangman said he hopes to see his sprinters perform better in individual events.
“I prefer that they do well in individual events than in the relay. That’s what we’re focusing in on,” Fangman said.
In the field, senior thrower Courtney Kuzmicz hit the provisional NCAA qualifying mark in the Jan. 30 Indiana Wesleyan Invitational. According to Fangman, that’s what it’s all about.
“Are you getting posted [on the provisional list]? That’s what we’re looking at. Our strongest and deepest area still is our throws,” Fangman said.
Last week, freshman thrower Katy Watson was named the GLVC Field Athlete of the Week.
“I found it to be really cool,” Watson said. “But we just want to get our distances up for conference. It’s great that we get to do that. But it’s not our main focus.”
The focus is on competing for berths at nationals. The best way for Fangman to do that is to give his athletes the best competition possible.
“I try to put them in meets that they’re not winning,” Fangman said. “I’m maxing them out. I couldn’t have gone anywhere else to make the competition better.”
On the men’s side, giving senior sprinter Frederick Helm the best competition is critical, according to Fangman.
“When you’ve got a sprinter like Freddy Helm, putting him in meets that he can win isn’t necessarily going to make him faster. You’ve got to get Freddy in meets that he’s going to get beat in,” Fangman said.
In the field, Royer has won four of six events in which he has competed.
Fangman said Royer is a joy to coach.
“Matt works extremely hard. There’s probably no one that works any harder than Matt,” Fangman said. “Most everybody knows that. He sets that bar. He’s the consummate [athlete].”
His teammates acknowledged what keys his success.
“He shows that with hard work and dedication, you can go out there and make it. Keep pushing and get to his level,” said sophomore jumper/sprinter Terrell Franklin. “We’re strong, only getting stronger.”
