Women’s track and field is off again and is starting with the indoor season.
The season started just after winter break and is broken up into indoor and outdoor events throughout the rest of the year.  The women had their first away meet at the Dubuque Invitational where they went to show what they have been training for.
Junior Rachel Akmakjian believes that their next meet at the Monmouth Midwest Invitational is a good time to start gauging the season. Akmakjian is a sprinter who is looking forward to running the 200 meter race at the Invitational.
The Monmouth Invitational is an event that members of the track and field team can start to prepare themselves for the spring season. Monmouth usually has a competitive team, thus pushing the Vikings to compete strong. The event has eight teams, and last year, the Augustana women’s track and field team took first place, which leaves high expectations for this year.
“[The] Monmouth [Invitational] shows what we can improve on to get ready for the main season,” said Akmakjian. “The girls sprinting team did well at the Dubuque meet, but I know that we can improve as a team to make the spring season strong.”
Head coach Fred Whiteside believes that the first meet is the time to realize that expectations may or may not be possible. “We met many of our expectations, but we still have a ways to go to reach our full potential,” said Whiteside.
Last year the women’s track and field team came in first at the Monmouth Invitational, and that is what coach Whiteside is expecting out of the ladies this year.
“It is possible for us to win this invitational again, if we all come together as a team,” said Whiteside.
One of the senior leaders on the team, Rachel Kelly, wants everyone on the team to compete to the best of their ability, so they can be successful as a whole.  Rachel, a long distance runner, had a strong cross country season this year, and is hoping that it will carry over into the track season this spring.
“Our top three long distance runners are not competing right now due to injuries, but I think we can overcome that as a team” said Kelly. “And, we still have a strong chance to win the Monmouth Invitational, if everyone shows up and does what they are expecting as individuals.”
The Monmouth invitational is this Saturday, Jan. 24, and the girls are coming prepared to take first, to prove they are as competitive as last year’s team.