The indoor track and field season is quickly winding down and bringing about high hopes for the upcoming season of outdoor events. The indoor track and field created a lot of accomplishments and was looked upon as a good year by coaches and players alike.

“Our men’s team created goal sheets before we started this winter and the obvious trend of goals was to win a meet. We met that goal by winning the Cornell quad on Feb. 9,” Head Coach Tim Byers said.

This was the first meet the men’s indoor team had won since the 1991-92 season. The Storm men and women have two more indoor meets, one of which will be the conference meet on Feb. 22 and 23.

“A lot of people are right on the brink of nationals, we only have two more chances with the conference meet and the next weekend for qualifying,” said junior Tracy Whitney.

Byers really seemed to turn the track program around. With this being his first year on the coaching staff he has a lot of success and only a few challenges.

“The main challenge I faced was that the numbers were down. A lot of people told me they were interested in running for me, but when the season actually came around, no one was there,” said Byers. “I love the hard working athletes that have committed to putting their time in this season.”

Whitney also thought that Byers was an excellent addition to the staff.

“He is what this team really needed. He raises morale and is a great motivator,” said Whitney.

Some key athletes to watch in upcoming outdoor events will be Athlete of the Week, senior Luke Carder who in indoors, just broke his own record along with the school record for the high jump with 6 ft. 9 in. The men’s 4 by 400 meters team will also be one to watch, which consists of Jeremy Mohwinkle, Zach Allison, Jeremy Keehn, and Eric Karr.

On the women’s side, senior distance runner Sara Jensen and senior Becky Jolly in the sprints and hurdles will be highly competitive.

The team as a whole feels like they are starting to come together.

“We are feeling more like a family and really getting comfortable with each other and what we must do together to be successful,” said Byers. “This is the biggest thing that needs to be accomplished and with the high quality athletes we have on the team, it is definitely being done.”