Track and Field opens first season with strong showing

The inaugural season of MVNU’s Track and Field program began this month at the Bob Shannon Invitational hosted by Denison University.

“It has been a long time waiting to see MVNU represented on the track, and I could not be happier with the effort from our athletes,” Coach Chip Wilson said following the meet.

MVNU’s first meet was highlighted by freshman Sam Nordquist’s second-place high jump and MVNU’s fifth-place finish in the men’s 4x200 meter relay.

Both the men’s and women’s teams finished the meet in 10th place.

“We know that depth will be a factor in every meet this season,” Wilson said, “but in the events we participated in, we were very competitive. I saw a lot of excitement from our athletes and great bonding as a team.”

Besides the Feb. 7 meet at Denison, the teams participated in an exhibition meet at Ohio Wesleyan last weekend.The Cougars will be back on the track Saturday at the Kenyon College Classic.

The indoor season will extend through March, with the Cougars competing in sprinting, distance and throwing events. An outdoor season will follow later in the spring.

The first-year team consists of 25 athletes, and coaches have begun recruiting for next season.

“We’re excited to get the program up and going,” athletic director Keith Veale said.

The team is using facilities at Mount Vernon High School and Kenyon College to train.