Story by ALEX AGUEROS, for The Muleskinner—
UCM track and field returns home this weekend hosting the Mule Relays Friday and Saturday. After sending select athletes to the Jayhawk Classic last week, the team is focused on catching up on training that schedule constraints have limited.
“We didn’t run a lot at Kansas,” co-head coach Kirk Pedersen said. “We felt a lot of kids were better off here training. This is our third week back together, so we hope to see some progress.”
Central has trained as a team for three weeks, so the indoor track season seemingly snuck up on them.
“I know we haven’t competed very much compared to most schools,” co-head coach Kip Janvrin said. “So I would say we’re behind most schools in the conference, but we’re close to where we want to be.”
The Mule Relays also provide some distinct elements, compared to other meets. It’s one of the few meets in the season that hosts the men’s and women’s events on separate days.
“From a fan’s standpoint, it makes the meet a little shorter each day,” Janvrin said. “It’s just a unique perspective you don’t see very many places.”
Pedersen said the split also offers a special sense of team support that an average meet can’t.
“It’s neat to see the women competing and the men cheering and helping out, and then you get the reverse on Saturday,” he said.
The split gives the meet extra time to have events that the Mules and Jens typically do not run. Central has not competed in multi events since sending ten athletes to the Doane College Multi Events last month.
“Our multi event kids don’t have that many opportunities to compete,” Janvrin said. “Because there’s so few opportunities in the multi events, I’m looking forward to the pentathlon and heptathlon.”
Combined events start at 9 a.m. Friday, and 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Field events begin 1:30 p.m. Friday, and 11:30 a.m. Saturday. Track events start 5 p.m. Friday, and 3 p.m. Saturday.