Track heads to Montana
For most teams winning is everything, but not for Gregg Gensel, the head coach of the Utah State men’s and women’s track teams.
At least not yet.
However, the Aggies will look for continued improvement when they travel to Bozeman, Mont., Saturday to compete in the Montana State Invitational. Other teams competing are Montana State University, the University of Montana and Weber State University.
“We’re actually not trying to win this meet,” Gensel said. “We’re just trying to improve on our performances. It’s important that we continue improving. That’s all we’re trying to do right now.”
For this meet, as well as the rest of the indoor track season, Gensel has not put his athletes in what he feels are their best events. He said his goal indoors is simply to prepare for the outdoor season, which begins in late March.
“We haven’t set up our team for everyone to run or jump or throw all their best events yet,” Gensel said. “But we’re getting closer to that point.”
But that is not to say the Aggies don’t take the indoor season seriously. Last week at the Boise State Heritage Invitational, the USU men recorded five school indoor track and field records, while the women recorded two.
Despite the broken records in Boise, the Aggies only captured two titles. Gensel said he expects USU to improve on that number Saturday, with another week unders its belts.
What he said he has learned is not to be surprised by any individual performances.
“If they surprise me it means that I didn’t think they could do it,” he said. “I think all of them can live up to their potential. That’s why I recruit them. What has impressed me is their consistency, and how much improvement we’ve had over such a short period of time.”
One Aggie who continues to perform consistently is sprinter/hurdler Justin Wickard. Wickard not only took the title in the 60-meter dash last weekend, but also bested a school record he had set just three weeks earlier.
“We’re trying to get people ready for the long haul,” Gensel said. “We’ve had a lot of good performances indoors so far, and I think that will carry over into the outdoor season.”
–acfalk@cc.usu.edu