Sophomore Kiara Austin gets ready to sprint off her blocks during a cold winter practice earlier this year.
The Racers started their spring track and field season strong at the Illini Classic in Urbana-Champaign, Ill.
Junior Lashea Shaw got things rolling quickly for the Racers as she finished in the top 10 in three separate events on the afternoon.
Shaw took fourth in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.78 seconds, not far from a personal record. She also finished eighth in both the 60-meter dash (7.95) and the 200-meter dash (25.72).
Fellow junior Brittany Bohn had a good afternoon as well, gaining a new personal record in the 800-meter dash and finishing in 11th.
Bohn also missed beating her personal record in the mile run by two seconds.
For the field competition, Tonia Pratt placed fourth overall in the weight throw with a throw of 17.44 meters. Pratt also took seventh place in the shot put with a toss of 13.88 meters.
Two team members made their debut at the competition. Freshman Chleo Legrand placed eighth in pole vaulting, while freshman Victoria Yocum posted a time of 8.02 seconds in the 60-meter dash.
The Racers have placed among the top three teams in the conference the past two years and are hoping to have rings at the end of this season.
Head Coach Jenny Severns said the team wants to continue past success. “They know that it’s going to take more than we have ever given before” Severns said. “I feel like this team wants it more than any other team since I’ve been here, so I’m excited.”
So far, the team has had to embrace the cold weather during its practices.
“We have had to alter a few things, but our athletes are used to unpredictable weather,” Severns said. “They are good about not complaining and getting their workouts done the way they should.”
After a strong first showing, the team has a week to prepare for the next meet.
The Racers start competition today at the Eastern Illinois Invitational in Charleston, Ill.
Story by Mallory Warmack, Staff writer