University Star

It has been a fast season for the many athletes on the track and field team here at Texas State. Our runners are hot on the competition’s heels, and it is definitely becoming a semester to remember.

This is all at the hands of newly appointed Coach Dana Boone and her completely revamped staff. They have made quite an impact on the track and field program here since their start.

When news spread of sprinter  James Johnson’s performance at the very first meet of the indoor season, I knew this year’s track season was going to be one to keep an eye on. He reached a personal best from the beginning and broke Texas State’s 29-year-old record for the 200-meter dash as well. Soon after, fellow teammates were either breaking records or setting personal bests for themselves. Multiple first-place finishes at the Houston Indoor Invitational, and events from men’s and women’s teams at the Victor Lopez Classic contributed to my confidence in this new program. Despite the fact that the track and field program already had returning superstars from last year, there is always room to improve. I was impressed by the speed at which Boone’s first season had made a statement.  I do not hesitate to say I expect even greater things from it.

My trust in the abilities of this new coaching staff stems from the early commentary and outlooks from reporters when Boone first got on board. I had faith in the numbers Boone had been producing from athletes already. She has coached at schools from LSU to The University of Texas. She has led a multitude of track and field athletes to personal records as well as placing performances at major events. It includes both the indoor and outdoor NCAA Track and Field Championships.  That list also spans to a total of 53 All-American athletes and competitors in the Olympic Trials and the World Championships. It is clear that Boone has more than enough experience to take the Texas State track and field program to new heights.

The Bobcats recently ascended into higher rankings for their outdoor performances, according to the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association week two poll released on April 10. For the women, it meant moving up five places from 14 to be seated at ninth place in the South Central Region. For the men, this meant actually placing within the top-15 outdoor teams for the very first time, also at ninth place. This is impressive due to the fact that Texas State is a member of the South Central Region, which includes schools such as Baylor, Arkansas, and LSU. It is exciting to see Texas State shaking up expectations in ways that may have been completely unexpected.

As the outdoor season for the Texas State track and field team continues on, it will be interesting to see what accomplishments they will achieve. By helping to put more points on the board, Boone and her team will have the challenge of continuously bettering the program. I am certain this will hardly be a problem. I expect to see greater things this impressive semester.