Track opens season with Snake River Invitational
In its first meet of the season the Utah State track team will determine where it stands as it competes at the Snake River Invitational in Pocatello, Idaho, on Saturday afternoon.
Although the Aggies hope to do well against teams like Weber State University, the University of Utah, Idaho State University and Montana State University, Aggie Head Coach Gregg Gensel said the real objective of the meet is geared toward individual accomplishments.
“What we’re trying to do is to see where everybody is at, see what they did or didn’t do over the holiday,” Gensel said. “It’s exciting because it’s been a long time since they’ve competed, so it’s nice to let them get out there and let them see what they can do.
“This is just one of those meets where I just want to see what everybody can do,” he said. “I really don’t care how well they do.”
Gensel is not the only one on the team with the individualistic attitude. Justin Wickward, one of the Aggies’ top hurdlers from last season, considers this weekend to be just another step toward the goal of qualifying for Nationals, he said.
“You can’t really tell from the first meet where you’re going to be at,” Wickward said. “Somebody could come out really fast this week and then not run that fast anymore. So it’s just another building block for our team and for myself to build up to outdoor conference.”
Up to this point both Gensel and Stan Croft, the women’s coach, have been worling their teams indoors, which is not a focus for the Aggies.
But aside from working indoors, Katie Farner, who competes in the heptathlon, said the coaches have been very intelligent about their tactics. Both the women’s and the men’s teams are virtually injury free — a product of how the coaches have been holding practices, she said.
Wickward agreed.
“Practices have been really good, we’ve been building a real strong foundation for outdoors,” he said. “Conditioning has been really, really good. I think the whole team’s been pleased with it.”
With the coaches doing their job and the athletes doing their job, the team is ready to go see what they can do, Farner said, even though it might take a few weeks before it can really see how well it will do. But for the most part, she said the Aggies are confident about the upcoming season.
“We have a really strong team, both sides this year,” Farner said. “I’m excited to see what we can do.”
USU will host its only indoor home meet of the year, the Wilson Motor Invite, Feb. 1.
–csmo@cc.usu.edu