After devoting the last two weeks to preparations for the Southeastern Conference Indoor Championship, the women’s track and field team is ready to run up to Lexington, Ky., for its final indoor meet.
“Usually the week of the meet we increase the intensity as well as the volume,” said head coach Al Schmidt. “This week has been more of a speed week than anything.”
Hard work and dedication is required during this time of any athletic season.
With additional, more intense practices, the Lady Dawgs look to be ready mentally and physically.
“We are a part of one of the best conferences in the country, and they know that, so they are definitely ready mentally,” Schmidt said. “Physically, we are completely ready. We still have a long season ahead of us; it goes through June and July, so we just have concentrate and stay healthy.”
Accomplishing physical readiness occurs at practice throughout each week, but psychological preparation is self-controlled homework.
NCAA distance champ Tiffany McWilliams chooses to get mentally ready at the last minute.
“I haven’t started thinking about it yet, but I will on the bus ride to Lexington,” McWilliams said. She added that she and the rest of the team “have been concentrating and making sure to have really good workouts so that [the team] will continue to perform well.”
Zita Magloire said she has been thinking positive. In doing so, she thinks about her good races instead of her bad ones.
“Rest is another important aspect for the team,” Magloire said. “Taking care of our bodies is extremely important; we need to get enough sleep so we can execute and do our best.”
Magloire added that personal faith and communication help along the way.
“It is important for us to pray and talk to each other as a team to make sure we have the same goal,” she said.