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Cannon Crompton/sports@cherokeescout.com Andrews’ Jesus Jimenez works on hurdles during practice last week.
Andrews – The Wildcats’ track and field team began preparation for the 2024 season by looking forward to invitational meets and having older athletes mentor younger ones.
The Cherokee Scout spoke with Andrews coach Reagan Lindsay about the upcoming season.
Q: What are your goals for this season?
A: “Our main goal for the season is to keep the momentum going that we’re starting off with because just with the nature of track, you’re going around the same track over and over again. It’s easy for mental burn out and I want to keep this enthusiasm that we have starting the season continuing on. For a lot of our returning athletes, we would really love to see them get new (personal records) and just constant improvement. And then for our new folks, find the perfect place for them.”
Q: What will the team do to achieving their goals?
A: “We’ll do a lot more specific drill practice, as opposed to just running the events, and really try and get the mechanics down for everyone’s events so they can be the best they possibly can be.”
Q: How will the team build on last season?
A: “Part of what we’re going to do is let a lot of the returning folks for the season mentor our newer folks. I’m going to give them a little responsibility, but also let their expertise show for the newer folks so that we keep that experience with us.”
Q: Who are some standouts on the team this season?
A: “O’Malley Salinas, Myca Mustin, Joshua Hernandez, Kylie Donaldson, Beth Shook, Allie Gibson. I think they’ll all do well, but those are going to start over the top this season.”
Q: Are there any meets this season that stand out?
A: “The invitations, especially, because you get to a certain point where you run against the same conference over and over again, and every school in the conference has standout athletes that usually don’t have challenge within the conference. So those invitational meets are a really good way of providing challenges for those really exceptional athletes.”
Q: How has the team been preparing for the first meet?
A: “We’ve been doing a lot more dynamic warmups, active stretching trying to reduce injury and keep the soreness down so that every practice, every day, they can put their best selfs forward.”
The Wildcats’ first meet of the season is scheduled at Montreat College, which is east of Asheville, on Friday, March 15, but Montreat has yet to decide if they will host. If they decline, Andrews’ first meet will be at home Wednesday, March 20.