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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
Track & Field

Outdoor season begins

Molly Wedan

While spring may be hiding behind the snow drifts, Chadron State’s track and field team prepares to begin their 2013 outdoor season. The first meet of the season takes place Thursday in Spearfish, S.D., hosted by Black Hills State University.

The men’s team was recently predicted to finish with a silver medal  in the RMAC Outdoor Track and Field Preseason Coaches Poll. Fourth place is the proposed spot for the CSC women’s team to take.

Chadron State’s Jamie Bair, freshman thrower of Glenwood Springs, Colo., practices the weight throw in practice during indoor season. — Photo by Ashley Swanson
Chadron State’s Jamie Bair, freshman thrower of Glenwood Springs, Colo., practices the weight throw in practice during indoor season. — Photo by Ashley Swanson

Those estimated finishing places seem attainable after the spectacular indoor season Chadron State had. In outdoor seasons, athletes can expand the field aspects of this sport.

The other schools that are supposed to attend this open are South Dakota School of Mines, Minot State University, University of Mary, Rocky Mountain College, and Gillette Community College, bringing in lots of competition.

There are also some athletes who will be returning after taking a season off. Karl McFarlane, junior of Montego Bay, Jamaica, will be competing in the high hurdles, sprints and relays. He currently holds the high hurdles school record. Another record holder, Cody Hunt, senior of Lingle, Wyo.,  will be present on the field in throwing events. He also obtained a school record, in the shot put, and this will be his last season of competition.

“I need to stay healthy and stay focused on the positives and ignore the negatives. I also need to set myself up better for getting another national title,” McFarlane said.

Some indoor season record-breakers return for this outdoor season in the pole vault event, like the sibling duo Kaelie Jelden and Kolten Jelden, both seniors of Eaton, Colo. In close competition with Kolten Jelden is Skylar Hoopes, sophomore of Lusk, Wyo., who had previously set the record in pole vault before Jelden captured it.

Sprints and jumps will be the big events for the men’s side, while the throwing events may bring in most of the points for the women.

A first performance can be overwhelming, but Becca Volf, freshman middle distance runner of Wood River, is excited to get the season underway.

“I’m excited to get the first meet in and see where I am at in the competition and go from there,” Volf said.

The field events begin at 12 p.m. and running events are to follow at 1 p.m.