Colonel track and field entered Top 25

The Nicholls State University women’s track and field team competed in their second meet of the season last week in Birmingham, AL. At the Samford Open, seniors Hannah Naquin and Courtney Crawford, as well as freshman Eleana Callejas, raced their way into the top 25 ranking of the Southland Conference.

RACE RECAP

In the mile, Naquin finished sixth place in five minutes, 14.82 seconds and now has the fifth best mile time in the SLC. Callejas also competed in the mile where she earned a new personal best at five minutes, 37.44 seconds. Her mile time is the 20th best in the SLC. In the long jump, Crawford landed an impressive 16 foot, 18.5 inch jump that placed her 11th in the race and 21st in the Southland Conference.

SOUTHLAND SPOTLIGHT

According to Naquin, having herself and members of her team ranked among the top in the conference means their hard work is paying off.

“It feels great to have your name on that ranking,” Naquin said. “Especially thinking back on all the six a.m. workouts, and knowing that all those early mornings and hours of hard work are paying off.”

Callejas said that with the motivation of head coach Stefanie Slekis, she has seen herself grow as a runner and as a top contender of the Southland Conference.

“Coach Slekis has really pushed me and made me become a stronger runner,” Callejas said. “Coach is by far the best person to run with. She encourages me to push through and finish, and it helps me so much. To earn two personal bests so early in this track season sets so many more goals for me in the future that I know, with the help of Coach, I can accomplish.”

COLONEL CAMARADERIE

Naquin said that the closeness of the team and the large number of seniors on the squad have helped younger runners, like Callejas, find their own groove.

“Since we have a good number of seniors, I feel like the leadership of the team is very strong,” Naquin said. “The younger players have good examples to follow in the more experienced members of the team. For the distance group, our younger runner, Eleana has benefitted from having seniors around her.”

Callejas explained how the seniors, as well as the entire team, were both welcoming and encouraging from the start of her cross country and track careers, even when she was the sole freshman on the team.

“I wasn’t worried about being the only freshman because they welcomed me and made me feel so comfortable the first day out,” Callejas said. “My teammates and I support each other and encourage each other every day during hard workouts and regular runs. I definitely look up to them.”

GOAL CHASING

With their next meet slated for next weekend at Louisiana State University and a long season ahead of them, the track team has made both short-term and long-term goals.

For Callejas, some of these goals include improvements in her 800-meter race as well as her mile time. Callejas said once the team gets bigger, she will be able to shave down minutes on her 5K race for future seasons.

After Naquin graduates in May, she is hopeful that Slekis will continue The Nicholls State University women’s track and field team competed in their second meet of the season last week in Birmingham, AL. At the Samford Open, seniors Hannah Naquin and Courtney Crawford, as well as freshman Eleana Callejas, raced their way into the top 25 ranking of the Southland Conference.