Men’s Track Hoping to Keep Winning Spirit Alive

After a blistering 800 meter run of 1:52.31 (1:49.07 converted) on January 23rd in the Steinhauer Fieldhouse, junior Patrick Weaver automatically qualified for the NCAA DII Nationals Indoor Meet.

“Being fortunate enough to get that out of the way early, you don’t really need to worry about racing as much and chasing times. You can kind of just relax and focus on training,” Weaver commented. After the stunning performance, Weaver was named Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Track Athlete of the Week.

Weaver also runs the 800-meter leg of the Distance Medley Relay (DMR) with teammate Josh Hoskinson, a sophomore who runs the 1200-meter leg of the DMR.

“Last year we got fourth place at nationals in the DMR,” Hoskinson explained. “I think we’ve all gotten a lot better.”

The DMR team from last season will be returning in full force, as none of them graduated and they are all going into the season healthy. However, it will not be easy, as Hoskinson points out, “Adams State is always a big rival, but we managed to beat them out in cross country this year which was huge for us.”

After that unprecedented success during this past cross country season, Hoskinson and Weaver, along with their teammates, are looking to keep that momentum going into the indoor track season.

“I think just having the excitement of being the first [NCAA DII Champions] in school history makes you hungry for a little more. We got a taste of what it felt like and we definitely want to be back on that podium again,” Weaver said.

This could not be more evident, as Weaver said that he thinks the national championships for his individual 800-meter race, the Distance Medley Relay, and the entire men’s track team is definitely not out of the question. Hoskinson stated how he thinks the men’s team has a real shot at winning conference, despite the fierce competition from Adams State.

“We just have a lot of wild cards I guess. A lot of people have the opportunity to race really well, and it’s exciting to see,” Hoskinson expanded. Weaver delved deeper into how he hopes the men’s team can win a national championship.

“As a team we just need to keep being there and supporting each other and having a strong team dynamic. That way it doesn’t feel like a bunch of individuals out there. You know you’re competing for more than yourself,” Weaver said.

“It’s going to be a really exciting season I think. There are a lot of opportunities that we can take advantage of,” Hoskinson finished.

You can catch all the action as Weaver, Hoskinson, and their teammates race the DMR at the Joe Davies Classic, Feb. 19-20.