Mississippi State University’s track and field team will travel to Oxford this weekend to compete in the Ole Miss Open. This marks the squad’s final regular season meet. The meet is extremely crucial for several of the squad members of both the men and women’s team.
“This meet is mainly for those who haven’t qualified for regionals yet,” said head coach Al Schmidt. “Those who haven’t qualified will be the ones competing, so it will be a three-quarter squad.”
Just as every athlete does, the team set their individual goals prior to the season; for most of the Bulldogs, it was to accomplish a regional qualifying mark. This weekend will be the final opportunity to achieve these particular ambitions.
“The season is coming down to the wire; this entire year I have wanted to set a regional qualifying mark,” said freshman thrower Christina Hernandez. “I have yet to carry out this goal; if I don’t, I will settle with a personal best.”
The Bulldogs have put in a countless number of hours practicing and competing in meets throughout the spring semester. When it looks like the end of the road is ahead; it isn’t quite yet. This might be the last meet for the Bulldogs, but only as far as the regular season goes. The most important part of the entire season will begin with the SEC Championships.
“As a team we hope to finish on a positive note,” said senior javelin thrower Clay Garner said. “We want to get a good push going into our post-season meets.”