Even with COVID-19, the Mules and Jennies Track and Field season has their first home meet on Friday, Jan. 22, and the teams said they’re looking forward to improving this season. The Mules and Jennies went to the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association National Championship meet for Track and Field, but they were unable to compete because it was canceled because of the pandemic. The teams went to the championship, waited for 15 hours and then it was canceled.

  On Jan. 21, the MIAA released the preseason coaches poll. The Jennies ranked, 4th and the Mules ranked 5th in the poll. 

  “Knowing that we were 5th place at the end of the conference meet for both teams, … I feel pretty fortunate that the other schools in the conference, that the other coaches, would feel that we would be better this year,” head coach Kip Janvrin said. “And I do hope that we are a better team than last year, but time will tell.”

  During the offseason, players have been trying to improve their skills to prepare for the first home meet. Seniors Cassie Jennings and Kyzer Ramuy said they are looking forward to the season and being able to compete. 

  Ramuy said, “I’m looking forward to being the best that I can be — working hard, focusing on the things that I can focus on, making my coach and teammates proud.” 

  “I took the time in the offseason to train for nine months,” Jennings said. “I focused on my skill on pole vault and hoped that I would get the chance to compete again.”  

  Having a season means a lot to the team, especially knowing anything can happen during the season. During the pandemic, meets can be cancelled at any time. Jennings said the schools in California are not competing which makes the competition different because it will be a smaller meet. In California, they have good pole vaulters who competed last year. Without the players from California, it will give other schools a chance to compete for Nationals. 

  Jennings said, “We are very blessed to be granted a season and will be taking advantage of having one.”