By Nick Van Heest | Echo
The Taylor track and field teams competed in the Manchester Invitational Saturday afternoon, a final tune-up before the Crossroads League Championships this weekend.
"Some of the team might have been a little beat up from the 'Little State' meet last week, but overall it was a good meet for us," said head coach Ted Bowers.
The men's team won five events, led by junior Jeremy Cutshaw's victory in the 400 meter hurdles in 54.75 seconds. Junior Cerio Rolle followed suit in the 400 meter dash, racing to the finish in 50.29. Next to carry the torch was sophomore Scott King, who won the 800 meters in 1:57.99, and senior Corbin Slater claimed the 5000 meters with a time of 15:33.47.
Senior Kyle Anderson added a win in the field events, taking first place in the javelin throw with a heave of 50.56 meters.
"It was actually the second best throw of my career," Anderson said. "(A) key (to victory) was going in relaxed and putting together the things I worked on in practice."
On the women's side, the former and current Crossroads League women's track Athletes of the Week led the way. Senior Henrietta Carey, last week's winner, claimed the 400 meter dash in 1:00.84, while junior Erin Price, this week's winner, took first in the 200 meter dash in 26.92.
Freshman Kaitlin DeHaan and sophomore Kehlay Dunah followed Price in the event, as the Trojans took the top three spots.
Two relay teams were also victorious, the 4x100 meter relay team of Carey, Dunah, and freshmen Angel Cartwright and Princess Sakeuh taking first place with a time of 49.71, while the 4x400 team of Price, Dunah, DeHaan and freshman Courtney Thompson crossed the finish line in 4:04.51, more than nine seconds faster than second place Indiana Wesleyan.
In the field events, senior Elizabeth Luke took second in the hammer throw with a toss of 41.99 meters, and senior Ali Swart placed second in the shot put, throwing 11.46 meters.
"I think the key to getting second place was that I am an experienced thrower, and I know how to control my emotions and not get frustrated," Swart said. "I focused as much as I could through my inconsistencies, and threw far enough to place high."
With the Crossroads League Championships beginning today, the teams are focusing all their energy on winning titles.
"We have a very strong chance of winning a conference title this weekend," Anderson said. "Our coaches have done an amazing job preparing us, and hopefully we will dethrone Indiana Wesleyan en route to a conference title."
Swart is also confident of her team's chances.
"The championship is not going to be given to us, but if we perform up to our potential, we will win," she said.
Beyond performances on the track and in the field, Bowers has been encouraged by the team chemistry this season.
"Fellowship has been a real strong point for us, the group has been well-knit this year despite being so big."
Bowers recounted an example of the team's unity from last week at Manchester. The last event was the hammer throw, and half the team went down to cheer on Taylor's throwers without being told, although they could have gotten on the bus or sat somewhere else.
"It gave me insight into what our team chemistry is like," Bowers said.
