The Culver-Stockton Men’s and Women’s Track and Field teams have started on a solid season so far and they’re continuing to make progress, according to Head Coach Hunter Davis.
“The indoor season has gotten off to a good start so far. We are hoping for a little more, but it is still very early. We’re showing signs of moving in the right direction, which makes me very excited,” Davis said.
The team has set several goals for this season, not only on the track, but also in the classrooms. One of those goals is winning the Academic GPA Cup at the Wildcat Awards later this spring. On top of that, the team is working hard to finish the season ranked in the national top 25. Last year, the women’s team got ranked 29th nationally, while the men’s team reached 32nd. Finally, Davis referred to another, more character focused goal. “We want to continue to grow as people and leaders on campus.”
Even though the indoor season just started, there are a number of athletes who have already stood out. “We currently have the #9 ranked women’s 4×800 meter relay in the country, and they set the school record,” Davis said. The relay team includes freshman Samantha Stone, freshman Erin Peppler, senior Malia Carmack, and junior Emma Berry. Davis also spoke about multi-event senior athletes Delaney Straus and Drew Mallet, who are both nationally ranked. “Drew Mallett is currently ranked 25th in the country in the heptathlon, on a day that wasn’t his best, and Delaney Straus is currently #9 in the pentathlon on a day in which she wasn’t her best either.”
Senior Emma Smith is also making an impact as a school record holder and returning All-Conference athlete in the Heart of America for the 60-meter dash. Davis also mentioned the 4×400 meter relay team on the men’s side, consisting of Mallett, senior Judah Rivers, junior Cade Packard, and junior Eric Lewczyk. This group continues to grow as they gain experience together.
Davis credits the team’s success to their strong work ethic and chemistry. “Our team has a very high work ethic, they are constantly pushing their bodies to the limits each and every day, whether it’s in the weight room, outside on the track, or inside on the treadmills and bikes. The team chemistry is a big motivator for the team as they are able to keep each other going and motivated.”
The variation of events can make track and field a bit more difficult to coach. “There are several challenges with coaching a sport like track with different events. The running events are all coached differently and are very similar overall in a lot of aspects. Where it is difficult is the technical events, which are the field events. There’s a lot of science that goes into all the events, but the technical events take the most time and care to perfect,” Davis said.
As the season continues, Davis is excited to see how the team grows as a group and to watch the groups develop. “We are just getting started so it’s very exciting to see where we can get to,” he said.
Davis also encouraged students and fans to attend home meets. “They are the best way to understand the athleticism, intelligence, and overall ability that our athletes have.”
