By Jacob Ervin, Senior Reporter
The Northwestern women’s track and field team is nearing the end of its indoor track meet schedule that has resulted in several school records, and runners are preparing for outdoor competition.
The Lady Rangers have had multiple athletes set school records in their respective events:
• Brianna Brantley set the school record for the 60-meter dash.
• Tavonyia Lacy set the school record for the 300-meter event.
• Jasmin Garcia set the school record for the 1000-meter event.
• Liberty Goodnow set the school record in the one-mile run.
• Krissalynn Henderson set the school record in the 400-meter dash.
• Machala Hengen, Ladasheray Bell, Lacy and Henderson set the school record in the 4×400-meter relay.
Long-distance runner Goodnow credited the coaching staff for the team’s record start to the season and specifically pointed to assistant coach Sterlin Broomfield, who oversees the long-distance runners.
Goodnow, who was not able to compete last season because of injury, is not satisfied with just being the Northwestern record holder for the one-mile run. She has higher expectations for both herself and the team as a whole.
“I want to beat the 3K and the 5K records, too, so I’m working on those next,” she said. “As a team, we just overall want to move up in the conference [rankings] because we’ve been ranked low for so long, and we’re finally moving up slowly, and I think this year, we’ll be able to make a big jump.”
This enthusiasm is shared by sprinter Brantley, who said the team has become tight-knit this season.
“The team chemistry has been a lot better this season,” she said.
Brantley said she believes that, if everyone is on the same page, the team will have a great opportunity to win the GAC track and field meet in May.
Goodnow and Brantley are not the only runners with high expectations for the team.
Assistant coach Derrick Young Jr. said the team could surprise opponents in the Great American Conference.
“It all depends on who shows up that day,” Young said. “The expectation is to go in and win it, but we’re definitely a Top Four team.”
Young said head coach Jill Lancaster built the program up during the past four years. He also credited the Northwestern and Alva communities with giving the team more support.
“It’s collective,” he said. “It’s the whole community: faculty, staff, professors accommodating us as well when we travel. … It’s the whole Alva, the whole Northwestern. Everyone is contributing.”
The team’s final indoor track meet will be Friday at the Kansas State Steve Miller Invitational. Following this meet, those who qualify will compete in the NCAA qualifying meet that will start Feb. 23.
The team will begin its outdoor season March 18 at Pratt Community College in Pratt, Kansas.