Pioneer LogLewis & Clark College’s Student-Run Newspaper

Track races into record books

March 05, 2010

by Lindsey Bosse

It was all school records, NWC qualifying marks and personal records last weekend in Newberg, Ore. Competing in the first NWC meet of the season, Lewis & Clark track managed to dominate their opponents Linfield and George Fox. Presented with beautiful weather, LC took over George Fox, the home team. The meet was run in a dual-meet format, although there were three teams present. Overall, Linfield came out on top, scoring 97-53 over George Fox, and 99-52 over LC. The Pioneers, on the other hand, took the Wildcats 71-62.

“In general we’re starting out in a much better place that we did last year,” said Illana Livstrom (’13) who is new to the team, but felt its tangible pride at the completion of the meet on Saturday.  

For Livstrom, this was her first track and field meet ever. She was previously a soccer player, who then joined track with her passion for running and a few people telling her she’d enjoy the sport. As soon as she took the track she ended up leading the pack for both of her events. Furthermore, she managed to take spots on the LC All-Time list, as well as qualify in the NWC for both of her events.  For the 5000-meter she took the no. 5 rank for LC’s All-Time list, and the no. 8 slot for the 1500-meter.      

“It surprised me. I came in not knowing anything, just wanted to see how track meets went,” Livstrom said. “I’m happy, and I’m starting in a good place.”

In addition to Livstrom, first-years Maddie Harper (’13) and Sifa Tonga (’13) also qualified in their events, pole vault and triple jump. First-years weren’t the only ones qualifying. For the women runners, Cheyenne Feliz (’11) finished both the 200-meter and 400-meter with NWC qualifying times.  Kevin Carpenter (’12) qualified on the men’s side in the 200-meter, while Joevonte Mayes (’12) landed a conference time in the 100-meter.  

The team’s field athletes also brought home some qualifications. For the women, Alla Khalitova (’10) qualified in the high jump and Liska Havel (’10) in the long jump. Three women throwers, Liz Johnson (’11), Katherine Landerholm (’12) and Amy Madden (’12), took slots across the board from hammer throw to discus to shot put.  For the men, Michael Pryor (’12) qualified in discus.  

The team has only been in training for about six weeks now (this does not include the team members who are just coming off of their prior sports season of football, soccer and cross country). It’s taken the team no time, however, to become a team.

“I never expected track to be a team sport,” said Livstrom.  

Early in the season, however, them has found a bond with each other. Track meets are a constant stream of action, and for LC there isn’t a minute wasted; athletes are either competing or cheering on their teammates.  It’s a fairly large team, with a high number of first-years, although ages are evenly distributed.