Panthers ready to compete after break

Friday, January 14 2011 - Wisconsin Badger Invite

Team looks to 'get the ball rolling'

By: Dominic Renzetti/Staff Reporter

Posted: 1/14/11

Eastern's track and field team looks to return to competition this weekend, as the Panthers will head to Madison, Wis. for the Badger Track Classic, held at the University of Wisconsin.

For the Panthers, this will be the team's first meet of the spring semester, as the team did not compete over the winter break. The Panthers have not competed since the Dec. 10 at the EIU Early Bird.

For host Wisconsin-Madison, The Badger Track Classic will be the first meet of the team's 2011 indoor track and field season. The Badgers finished second in the Big Ten last year behind Minnesota.

For the Panthers, and most other teams, a key factor coming into the Badger Track Classic will be trying to return to the competition state of mind after such a long winter break.

"Well, we're a little rugged. The long Christmas break always ends up bringing back a mixed bag to us," Akers said.

Akers said a key responsibility for the athletes is to be disciplined and to stay in shape over the winter break.

"Some of the kids we've seen already have done a good job of staying in shape and maintaining a fitness level over break, and some have not," Akers said.

With the season still young Akers stressed the importance of starting off on the right foot, especially during the opening weeks of the season.

"These last couple of weeks have been very important to how we get started here. So we will continue to evaluate over the next couple of days just to kind of see where everybody is at, and then take those that we think are worthy of competing at this point in time," Akers said.

Though, Akers does not worry too much about his team's long break because he knows each team the Panthers will be facing will also be dealing with the same off-field, mental challenges.

"Wisconsin and everybody that shows up to the meet is going to have to do that too. They are all coming off of a long layout as well because of the break. It's just something to get the ball rolling," Akers said.

Akers said that he and his staff even use the opposing team's layover factor as a tool to motivate the players.

"We use it as a motivational factor for our kids over break. I think some were motivated and are ready to compete and have proved that they really want to compete," Akers said.

After the Panthers finish the two day meet in Wisconsin, the team will return to the Lantz Fieldhouse for the EIU Mega Meet on Jan. 22, where former Eastern athlete and coach John Craft will have his jersey retired.

Dominic Renzetti can be reached at 581-7944
or dcrenzetti@eiu.edu