By: Micky Deming/Staff reporter

Posted: 4/3/08

The end of the Eastern women's track team's indoor season left a bad taste in Violet Nwordu's mouth.

Now the outdoor season has begun and she is using that disgusting flavor as extra motivation.

Eastern finished second to Tennessee State in the Ohio Valley Conference indoor championship more a month ago.

"We were devastated after getting second in indoor," Nwordu said.

The outdoor season began Saturday in the EIU Invitational.

Nwordu, a junior from Houston, delivered two wins with her motivation. She won the 100-meter and 200-meter dash in 12.51 and 25.31 seconds respectively.

"I'm as excited as I can be about the meet Saturday," she said. "I did not expect to do that well."

She was surprised by her success partially because the rain kept the runners from getting to practice outside. During the week leading up to the meet, she worked on her starts and prepared for Saturday, but didn't know what to expect in the meet.

One way Nwordu wants to improve personally this season is in her start out of the blocks. She said she is often the last sprinter out and then has to catch up.

She was out fast enough for two wins Saturday, but wants to keep improving so she can be ready for the OVC Championship in May.

"I don't want to get second place," she said. "I know we're as good as Tennessee State or whoever we have to beat. I just want to win."

Junior sprinter Crystal Jones expected a successful weekend from her teammate.

"I was not surprised at all to see her win," Jones said. "She's such a hard worker."

The two wins for Nwordu on Saturday only add to her belief in herself and her teammates.

"Winning twice helps me, because I know I can build on what I did," Nwordu said.

It also helps the team, which is important in Nwordu's goal of a conference championship.

"Violet winning boosts our confidence," Jones said. "We know everybody is fighting for conference after getting second in indoor."

Nwordu said the whole team is giving extra effort to work toward the goal of an OVC outdoor championship. Saturday's meet was positive for everyone because now the team is starting fresh in the outdoor track season.

"After getting second in indoor, it's good to have an outdoor meet under out belts." Jones said.

"(The end of indoor season) has definitely made us work harder," Nwordu said. "And everybody ran well in the first meet. It's going to be an exciting race for conference."



Micky Deming can be reached at 581-7944 or at jmdeming@eiu.edu.

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