Women’s indoor track & field stays positive
Sophomore, Amanda Asaro received eighth place in the mile and twelfth place in the 800 at the non-scoring Lehigh University John Covert Classic last Saturday. (Photo Courtesy of David Sinclair, GCC&M)
By Meredith Tombs, Staff Writer
This chilling winter weather has most of us college students looking forward to the warm spring season ahead. The members of the Gettysburg women’s track and field team are no different. They have been working hard during their indoor season in preparation for their upcoming challenges.
“The team has been working really hard in practice in order to prepare for the spring season. We are improving our times, heights and distances each meet,” said Eva Karkuff, sophomore.
“While we all hope to do well at indoor conferences, the ultimate goal is to peak for outdoor conferences in May. We have a long season ahead of us, and right now we are using practice and meets to prepare for the spring season.”
Karkuff, a mid-distance runner, has been struggling with an injury. A stress fracture ended her cross-country season early and she has not been able to race since October. Although she loves being able to cheer on her teammates in their competitions, she cannot wait to be back on the track. “I am really looking forward to being able to race again,” Karkuff shared.
Even with her injury, Karkuff loves the camaraderie and friendships that she has formed with her fellow teammates. “My favorite part of being on the track team is spending time with my teammates and bonding with them,” she shared. “We are all very supportive of each other and are a tight knit team.”
Junior, Kate Cavanaugh, has also noticed the effect that injuries have had on the team this season. “The biggest challenge as the team finishes out the season will be staying positive about injuries,” she said.
“We do have quite a few people out right now [for health reasons, but with some rehab and a positive attitude everyone will hopefully be back in time for the conference championships.”
Cavanaugh is a sprinter and a short hurdles specialist. She holds school records in the 60-meter dash and the 60-meter hurdles. Last Saturday, Cavanaugh placed third out of 40 competitors in the 60-meter hurdles at the Lehigh University John Covert Classic, finishing as the top Division III performer.
“I have been working really hard with my coaches to improve my hurdle technique, and it is fulfilling to know that it is finally all coming together,” said Cavanaugh of her successful season.
The junior has high hopes for the Bullets’s overall performance throughout the remainder of the season. She stated, “We have a really good shot at placing better in conferences than we did last year. The team has gained so many great new freshmen, and not many upperclassmen graduated, so the talent is going to be really strong”. Last year the Gettysburg College women’s team placed fifth out of ten competitors at the Centennial Conference Championship. This season the championship will be held at Haverford College in Haverford, PA, on February 28 and March 1.
This Saturday, February 7, both the men’s and women’s track teams will compete in the Dickinson Invitational in Carlisle, PA at 10:00 a.m.
On Wednesday, February 11, the Bullets will travel to Kutztown, PA, for the Kutztown Invitational, the time of which is still TBA.
