Over the next few weeks, most students will be huddled indoors, in love with climate control and thermostats ' hoping for that first 60-degree day.
A select few will be looking forward to the great outdoors as the Ohio track and field team kicks off its outdoor season March 29 in Oxford at the Southern Cup.
With only two weeks separating the conclusion of the indoor season (the NCAA Championships in Arkansas) and the beginning of the outdoor season, coach Clay Calkins will look to keep the same routines intact for his team.
Everyone has to deal with it
but they're used to it Calkins said. It might be a rough transition for the freshmen who haven't made the change yet
but the fall training really prepares them for the long season
so hopefully it will be a minimal impact.
Highlighted by a first-place finish at the Capital Invitational in Columbus and a sixth-place finish at the All-Ohio Championships, the Bobcats' indoor season was a related chain of events.
The team carried momentum from solid finishes into following meets but was also guilty of a few lackluster performances.
Calkins' team came together during the indoor season, and many runners posted personal and school-best finishes. Recently, the team finished 10th in the MAC Indoor Championships.
The winter break really put us in a deficit
Calkins said. Most other schools are on semesters
so that doesn't help.
The athletes have responded though. They've improved with each meet and it's a good sign going forward.
Over the course of the indoor season, the major strength of the Bobcats were the shot putters. Bahiyjaui Allen and Emily Amendola were formidable competition every week, and Amendola earned top-two finishes in five of her six meets.
While the concept of a home track advantage is over-hyped, the Bobcats will host just two meets this season ' the Ohio Invite and the Ohio Open ' staged on consecutive weekends. Last season, Ohio hosted three outdoor meets, one of which was canceled because of cold temperatures and an imminent snowstorm.
Calkins' team has been forced to become acclimated with competing on the road, so traveling for the majority of the outdoor season will not be a disadvantage. Because Ohio does not have an on-campus indoor track facility, the Bobcats spent the entire nine-week indoor season away from Athens.
It's rough sometimes
especially with a full course load
sophomore jumper Ashlee Reynolds said. But it's nice to get away for a while. Plus
I like the traveling.
Being away so much can be taxing
Calkins said. With the quarter system we're on
