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TRACK: Seniors set tone for younger teammates
Maroon
FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2013
Senior sprinter started as walk on By Sarah Szigeti Assisistant Sports Editor
Continued from page 9 earlier this season. Long distance and history sophomore Paul Freese in the 5,000m and general business junior Annie Hills have rewritten the record books in the 1500 meters. They each took the previous records set by three and four seconds respectively. Additionally, management junior Elizabeth Gienger, who was the first to run in the event in the program’s history, set a new school record for the women’s 3,000m steeplechase. “Once you get it out of the way, you’re free to write your own path from there. You’re just worried about yourself. You’re not worried about anyone in front of or behind you,” Freese said. The final event in which school records have fallen this season has been the shot put circle. Criminal justice freshman Christina Guzman has set the record for the women’s shot put at six different meets this season, beating it by over four feet with her most recent put. Guzman adds that seeing the seniors like Nelson and Tortorich being a part of these records motivates other athletes. “I guess everyone wants to take after them,” Guzman said. The success that the Wolf Pack has seen this season was helped in part by the hiring of new coaches
before this season started. This season, the team added Matthew Shelton, assistant coach, and senior assistant student coach and psychology senior Neal Outland to the staff this season. Shelton works primarily with the multi-event athletes and sprinters. Outland has been mainly involved with the weight training of the athletes. The athletes appreciate these changes along with the work Andy Canegitta, head cross country and track coach, and aquatics coordinator, puts in. “I think they’re the ones that really make this team special,” Maye said. As for improving further in the future, Freese thinks higher attendance at meets from Loyola students would be instrumental. “A way to definitely make it better is definitely support from kids that actually go to your school. They’d only help further motivate everybody,” Freese said. Etefia Umana can be reached at emumana@loyno.edu
Managment senior Claude Nelson will finally put down his spikes and spandex as he looks to wear a cap and gown in the upcoming week. Nelson, known as Mookie, is one of Loyola’s strongest and most valued sprinters and helped his team break over 20 records in just this one season. Unfortunately, it is time for Nelson to step off the track field, but only physically. Nelson came to Loyola from Boston to play for the baseball team. When those tryouts didn’t go according to plan, he thought he would try out for the track team “on a whim.” According to both him and his coach, Andy Canegitta, Nelson could barely run 400m when he first tried out. “He’s gotten faster and faster every year,” Canegitta said, “but he didn’t run in high school. He’s definitely come a long way, a long, long way.” Now, after three years of practice and dedication, he runs the 100m, 200m, 4x4 and 4x1, but claims his strongest is the 200m. He has broken his Loyola record, twice. He was even named SSAC athlete of the week last week. But he admits he would be nowhere without the support of his team. “I can see how far I’ve come, but I wouldn’t have made it anywhere without my team. Whenever someone is going through the same type of thing, only they know what
Courtesy of Jared Prescott
Managment senior Claude “Mookie” Nelson sprints down the track. Nelson decided to try out for Loyola’s track team his freshman year. you’re going through. You can’t help but build strong relationships,” Nelson said. Looking toward the future, Nelson hopes to keep up his athleticism, maybe even run a marathon just to “see what it’s like.” He is looking to move into a career in childcare development and hopefully at Life’s Good non-profit sector, working with
underprivileged kids teaching them optimism and healthy lifestyles. “I’m just like everyone else, trying to make everyone’s life a little more enjoyable. I’d like to consider myself an optimist, and if that can be the one thing I leave behind, that will mean more to me than any award,” Nelson said. Sarah Szegeti can be reached at sisziget@loyno.edu