Tuesday, March 29, 2011 I

TechNews

GRAEME PORT sports@technewsiit.com

Indoor and outdoor track and field

By Ashlie Ingold
STAFF WRITER

The IIT Indoor Track Team has just finished
up their season; TechNews had the chance to
hear some thoughts from a few of the mem—
bers on the team this season. Results from each
meet are posted on the Illinois Tech Athletics
website (wwwillinoistechathletics.com).

What are your thoughts on the team’s in-

door season and predictions on the outdoor
season?
Emily Kraemer: I think that this year’s indoor
season has been a big success so far. I know
some of the girls have hit some PRs already
and I think that we will be strong competition
come outdoor season.

Iaqui Roche: Well, I’ve never run for a team
before, so it’s all pretty new to me. So far, I’ve
just been enjoying the ride. I will say that I’ll
never forget my first race. Let’s just say it in—
volved a bit of blood and some wicked road
rash.

Natalie Mitrovic: As far as a whole team, it
is difficult for me to accurately talk about the
entire team’s indoor season, specifically how
the runners competed. As a thrower myself, I
am more aware of how other throwers are do—
ing. This indoor season, there have been many
additions to throwers: Roche, Arrash, Becca
Waterloo. It is always nice to see the throwing
family grow, so to speak. All three are new to
throwing and I have high hopes for them in the
outdoor season. Not many throwers competed
this past indoor season, but there were still
gains. Arrash gained experience in the ring.
Kraemer set a personal record with 8.00m in
shot put and I set my own personal record of
10.88m.

I am very excited for the outdoor season to
begin. More throwers will compete, such as
Annie Hutches. Even if students haven’t com—
peted in the indoor season, everyone has been
working hard and it will show in the outdoor

season.
What do you feel is the most diflicult part of
each season?

Kraemer: I think the transition from cross
country workouts to track workouts is prob—
ably the most difficult part. I know person—
ally I have even more practices that I have to
make because not only am I running but I’ll
be throwing and jumping as well. It’s all about
time management.

Roche: I’ve had some scheduling issues due
to early morning classes, work, and my eve—
ning practices for field. Luckily, coach loves me
and understands my issue, so I practice a lot
on my own. It can be hard to find time with
everything going on and I’ve made some time
management and motivation mistakes, but I’m
learning from them.

Mitrovic: I feel the most difficult part of the
indoor season is just getting back into the rou—
tine of things, setting time aside for practice
and balancing all my other obligations. Pre—
season and indoor season is physically more
demanding on me because the main focus is to
just get back in shape and gain strength.

As far as outdoor season, the most difficult
thing for me is the addition of throwing events.
During the indoor season, I only throw shot
put, but in the outdoor season I additionally
throw discus and javelin. Overall, I feel like
I have less time to perfect all three throwing
techniques. Outdoor season is definitely more
of a mental game with me, especially at the end
of the season when there are only a few meets
left. I put that much more pressure on myself

What do you enjoy about track and why do
you compete?

Kraemer: For me, running is like a release
from my day—to—day grind. I enjoy it so much
because it reminds me that I am the one put—
ting in the miles and the work that it takes to
be a competitor. Running is something that no
one can take away from me, and being on the
team lets me put my work to the test. The girls

are also great. The dedication and work ethic
that they have helps get me out of bed in the
morning; I don’t want to let them down be—
cause I know they won’t let me down.

Roche: Sweat. Blood. Endorphins. They all
appeal to me. I like watching my times get bet—
ter — feeling stronger, especially after a week
of feeling like a sack of potatoes bumping
along a country road. The name of the game
is improvement. There’s also nothing like a hot
shower after a freezing cold Chicago lake run
to stay motivated — to keep running.

Mitrovic: I was a thrower and sprinter in high
school and was saddened when I realized that
IIT did not have a track team. It was something
I really enjoyed in high school. Being on the
track club is an awesome experience; I enjoy
receiving an excellent education and still being
able to compete at meets. I love the feeling of
being strong and in shape, which track defi—
nitely forces you to become.

I always thought that track is not for the
weak—hearted. Whatever event someone may
do, it requires a lot of practice, discipline, pa—
tience, mental stability, and most of all, heart.
While competing can be nerve—wrecking,
making a personal record at a meet is one of
the best feelings. It solidifies all the hard work
that you have put in.

What are your personal goals this year?
Goals for the team?

Kraemer: This year I would like to hit the
times I was getting at the end of my high
school career. I’ve been out for a while due to
injury and ROTC conflicts, but I am ready to
get back to where I was. Next year it is my goal
to be really competitive in the heptathlon.

Roche: To stay motivated — to keep running.
Life can hit so hard sometimes, and running
will be the last thing on my mind. It’s finding
that reason to go out instead of listening to the
excuses about why I shouldn’t. As for the team,
I’d say they all have the drive to succeed and get
better... so, I’d really say just to keep each other

15

motivated and to push each other to get better.
Hopefully, next semester I will get a lot more
face time with them.

Mitrovic: For the outdoor season, I would like
to throw 12 meters in shot put, which I think
is very possible with my progression from last
year’s outdoor season (9.88m) to this year’s
indoor season (10.88m). I would also like to
throw 35 meters for both discus and javelin. As
far as the team goes, I hope my fellow throwers
succeed this season with their own personal
goals as well as the rest of the team (runners).

How to balance academics and athletics?

Kraemer: Academics and athletics are an
issue. We are here for school first and Coach
makes that clear. Studying — just do it, that’s re—
ally all it takes. As long as you actually sit down
and decide to do your work it’s easy. Studying
is a lot like running; the first step is getting out
the door. Once you do that you are set.

Roche: Oh gosh, it’s IIT. How do any of us
do it? Luck, adrenaline, pretending sleep isn’t
necessary, help from friends, and my personal
favorite — naps!

Mitrovic: It can be a challenge sometimes to
balance academics and athletics. I work out 4
days a week, approximately an hour and a half
a day. There are days where I am too tired or
just don’t want to go to practice, but I realize
to live a healthy lifestyle, I would have to set
time aside anyways to work out. The benefit of
throwing is that it gives me goals, motivation,
and a drive to keep coming because I want
to succeed and do my best at the next meet.
I see my practices as something I have to do
and manage my day accordingly to get all my
other obligations done. Ultimately though, I
am a student first and academics are a prior—
ity. Coach Neal is also very understanding of
students’ situation and allows us to take a short
leave if our studies are suffering.

The outdoor track season is set to begin April
2, with the first meet held at the University of
Chicago.

 

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