THUNDER BAY — While most students are currently prepping for their end-of-semester exams, the Lakehead Thunderwolves track and field team are fine-tuning their technique.
The team returns to action on Saturday at the Hangar, where they’ll be joined by local high school and elementary athletes in their kickoff for the 2024-25 campaign.
“It’s going to be a test of where our athletes are at, how they’ve reacted to their current training the base that they’ve built up over the last nine weeks, which includes those who competed with the cross-country team this fall,” head coach Joe McDonough said.
“A lot of our university athletes are going to be looking for their standard times for the OUA championship and a couple are going for the automatic qualification standards for the U Sports nationals.
“Plus, our younger athletes that will be are looking to qualify for the Nike Championship, which is held in New York and is the largest meet in North America for high school and elementary track and field athletes.”
With the way that schedule works for a lot of college and university track and field programs – they are doing their intrasquad training and determining their roster at this time of the year – the Thunderwolves will be the only post-secondary squad competing this weekend.
That head start is important for the team as they’ll be getting into their regular schedule when they return from the Christmas break.
“It’s pretty much like any other sport,” McDonough said. “Depending on the event, you need to have three to six high-quality races to be in championship form.
“To prepare them for those out-of-town competitions, we have to develop those habits here at home first. This is the easiest place to build positive competitive characteristics or routines.”
“I’m super excited to start here at home,” 600-metre runner Ben Lawson added.
“Our friends and family don’t often get a chance to come out and watch us, so this is a great opportunity for us to showcase all of the work that we’ve been doing for the last couple of months.”
There are a few new faces on year’s Thunderwolves squad.
A few seniors, including key members of the relay team, have moved on, but there’s several exciting young athletes that have been added to the roster.
“We had a really great season last year in our individual events and especially with the relay,” said Megan Bryson, who competes in the long jump and the 60-metre dash. “Those results really brought the team together and it makes us all excited to go out and do it again, but to be even better.
“We’re looking forward to leading the rookies along and showing them what it’s like to be a varsity athlete,” added 300m runner Sydney White. “It’s all about having a good work ethic on the track and a good ethic outside of competition, whether that’s with school, eating and taking care of ourselves.”
Saturday’s meet – which will feature sprint and distance running events, high jump and shot put – starts at 11 a.m. at The Hangar.