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Volume 40, Issue 12
April 8, 2003
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April 8, 2003
Track aims to reign supreme at nationals
By Danny Alcocer
Mesa Legend
Mesa's track team qualified 18 individuals for the 2003 indoor national
tournament. Nine of whom went on to become All-Americans this year.
The men's team took 11th overall and the women's team took 12th overall.
But head coach, Brian Jacobs, "doesn't take indoor season too seriously."
Tell that to the rest of the nation and see what kind of responses are
made.
Jacobs stands by his word though stating, "We don't really focus
on indoor nationals too much, we shoot for outdoor nationals."
If nine All-Americans is an unfocused team, fans should be anxious to
see what kind of medals a focused team might bring home.
The Thunderbirds boast an undefeated record thus far this season and Coach
Jacobs has set a team goal of placing Top 10 overall at nationals.
The track team has already qualified 15 athletes for nationals and is
just waiting for a couple more individuals to qualify and for the relay
teams to qualify.
Jacobs stressed the importance of the relay teams, "We need to get
our relay teams qualified, it is a good chance for us to score points
at Nationals."
Leading the way for the track team are the throwers.
MCC is proud to hold two of the best throwers in the nation in Sheldon
Battle and Clay Olson.
The two teammates and close friends ended up together via the same route.
Both are transfers from division I colleges, that found their home at
MCC.
When asked why they decided on MCC?
Both exclaimed, "You can throw all-year-round here."
Battle added, "I knew Coach Olson could get me to the level that
I wanted to be at."
Battle's farthest throw this year has been 58.2 ft a throw that assistant
coach Selmer Olson says, "Has been out thrown by only two other guys
this year, at any level."
If that name looks familiar, it should, Selmer Olson is Clay's Dad and
the throwing coach for the Thunderbirds.
Clay commented on his Dad coaching him saying, "I love my dad, but
sometimes my coach and I don't see eye to eye."
One of those times was when Clay came home with the Latin word for conqueror,
DOMITOR, tattooed across his back.
The track team hopes to follow suit and conquer nationals.
Clay added, “I like Mesa though I wish it was a 4-year school.”
Clay’s father agreed saying, “You can’t beat MCC. Every
track athlete that has left here will tell you that.”
On the women’s side, pole vaulter Angela Talverides will be looking
to capture her first national title after a second place finish in 2002
and another second this past year in indoor.
It appears the track team is ready for action at nationals.
Until then, watch the track team compete at the Mesa Classic on March
11 at Riggs Stadium.
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