| Track and field team redeeming Vandals |
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| Written by S.C. -For the editorial board | ||||
| Friday, 02 March 2007 | ||||
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With the Vandals stuck in a historic slump in football and men’s basketball facing a season in which the team has only won one game against a Division I opponent, it’s easy to get lost in the notion that all of UI’s sports teams suck. Between Washington State’s success in basketball to the west and Boise State’s in football to the south, UI gets overlooked and ignored in all athletic fields. This shouldn’t be the case. While football and basketball may be considered the “money-making” sports as far as college athletics go, it’s the UI track and field team that is breaking records and moving up the ranking charts. The men’s and women’s track and field teams broke three UI records this year. Mykael Bothun broke the women’s shot put record, in place since 2003. Melinda Owen broke her own record in the pole vault from 2006 and Matt Wauters broke the men’s weight throw record from 2002. The team boasts three nationally ranked athletes: shot putter Russ Winger is No. 1 in the nation. Wauters is ranked fifth and Owen is ranked 11th in their events. After going into the final day of last weekend’s WAC indoor championship in first place, the men’s team came in a disappointing third, but still advanced from 15th to 14th place in the nation. And the season is far from over. The team still has a good shot at proving itself in this weekend’s Husky Last Chance Meet in Seattle. All of the athletes on the team this year are phenomenal. While UI wallows in its misery after the embarrassing loss of Dennis Erickson and disappointing seasons in basketball and football, the track and field team is out there redeeming our school with little press time and recognition. While the indoor season is coming to a close, the outdoor season is just beginning. The student body needs to step up and show its support for this amazing group of athletes. Congratulations, track and field, for an excellent season so far, and keep up the good work.
— S.C. for the editorial board
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