Track battles nature against MSU this weekend
The outdoor track season will be in full swing this weekend, regardless of Mother Nature’s plans.
Despite potential harsh weather conditions, the Chippewas will travel to Michigan State University to compete at the Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invite.
Weather conditions are projected at 40 degree temperatures and winds of 18 mph.
“We will probably be limited by the weather, but it’s an opportunity to compete against a Big Ten school,” said Mark Guthrie, director of track and field. “Sometimes, out of bad situations come good results.”
At this point in the season, many of the athletes are hoping to make the Mid-American Conference automatic qualifier mark, a minimum time, distance, or height respective to each event that allows athletes to be considered to compete at the MAC championships.
Others are looking to make the NCAA first round marks, which allow 48 athletes for each event to qualify for the Eastern region meet.
Guthrie is not expecting many athletes competing in full track events to post qualifying marks because of the expected winds. The sprinters, too, will face difficulty running qualifying times. Even if the wind is at their backs, NCAA guidelines state that times run in wind exceeding 15 mph are not eligible for the qualifier.
With the high jump and pole vault moved inside, Guthrie expects good marks out of the throwers and jumpers.
Assistant coach John Ridgway said practicing in harsh weather conditions may give his throwers an upper hand on other schools. Where the Central Michigan University track and field athletes will have experience in condition similar to what they may face this weekend, competitors from other schools may not be.
Last weekend in Louisville, KY. the Chippewas faced similar conditions. Despite bad weather, the men and women turned up some solid performances in their season opener, including senior Alex Rose’s first place discus throw of 185 feet. Rose’s mark earned him MAC player of the week.
Rose says hopes to improve on his mark last weekend and throw a mark of over 190 feet this weekend.
“I am trying to focus on technique and think of my process as opposed to getting a higher mark,” Rose said. “If I do that the process as opposed to getting a higher mark the process will lead me to a bigger throw potentially.”
Rose acknowledged the fact that weather does play a big factor in discus, but, depending on the wind direction, it could help for a bigger mark.
“When we go down to the MAC meet, we could face similar conditions,” Guthrie said. “It might not put us at an advantage, but we might have learned how to manage these situations.”
