Breaking out and springing onto the track

Pioneer Track & Field gets ready to celebrate their Spring Break in a big way

By Tim Cable /// Staff Writer

You’ve probably made spring break plans at this point, and can’t wait to get off campus and head home or some exotic place. Maybe you’re headed off to Canada, or Cancun, if you’re a real party animal. It’s not that you didn’t pick the right trip for spring break, I’m sure that finishing up the new season of “House of Cards” and sleeping until noon every day will be a perfect break in the middle of a grueling semester. The only problem is, you’ll probably be missing out on one of the biggest athletic events at Lewis & Clark in recent memory.

This weekend, the Pioneer Track & Field teams are set to host the Spring Break Open. It’s the Pios’ first home meet of the track season, and figures to have its share of excitement, with over 600 athletes estimated to be competing. That’s right, 600 competitors from Division I to atypical Open entrants will take over LC this weekend, and you might miss it. It’s not too late to move back that flight!

This weekend will offer your first opportunity to catch the very strong Pios teams in action, at home at Eldon Fix Track. The Pios also host the conference championships in mid-April, so this weekend will serve as a tune-up and a chance to qualify for conference.

Emily Thompson ’16, a senior standout hurdler, is coming off of an impressive win in the 100 meters at the Pacific Preview with a time of 15.96, and taking second in the 400 meters at 1:07.95. Deion Mock ’16 anchors the men’s pole vaulters, taking first this past weekend by vaulting 4.3 meters. The Pios also found success in the relays, as Thompson, Katherine Kowal ’17, and Jeanie Mullins ’16 beat Linfield by one-hundredth of a second in the 4×100 relay with a time of 51.40. The men’s team of Kodie Artner ’16, Colin Brown ’17, Mock, and David Lovitz ’18 took second in the same event.

This success can be attributed to some great individual athletes, but a strong sense of camaraderie is certainly beneficial. Thompson was quick to point out how much the team has helped this year, adding that it “makes it fun and keeps you sane,” throughout a rigorous season in a demanding sport.

What better way to kick off your spring break then watching your Pios compete in a crazy big track meet, in the comfort of your own Eldon Fix Track?