In just two indoor track meets this season, both the men and women’s track and field team have already broken six school records and tied seventh.

So far in the season, the team has put together record scores in the women’s high jump, women’s shot put, women’s pole vault, men’s heptathlon and both the men and women’s distance medley relays.

“Over the eight seasons I’ve been here we’ve broken an average of 14 school records each year,” said Kathleen Raske, director of track and field/cross country.

With another two track meets to go for the indoor season, the team has the opportunity to meet that average, if not exceed it, with the different players going on to the conference and national championships.

“We’re really in a good position to continue to break records and to go after titles in both indoor events for our conference championships,” Raske said, “as well as advance more athletes than we have ever advanced into the indoor national championships.”

Current shot put record holder Andi Behring could not be happier with her team’s achievements.

“It has become a staple of our team I think,” Behring said. “I would much rather (have) team success than individual success, including my own. Winning championships is so much fun, and I love when we come together as a team and accomplish something like that.”

Behring said she sees a lot more in store for the team and would not be surprised if it was able to break 20 more records this season.

Raske, who also coaches the sprints and hurdles, was very pleased with the team’s efforts but said she was not content with where the team stands, knowing it could improve much more by the end of the season.

“We’re going to be very good this season in terms of our experience and returning players,” Raske said. “So we’ve set ourselves up for a good season coming in. I anticipate even more school records being broken.”

Why?

“What we do well is get our players to peak at the right time,” Raske said. “We want our players to work smart to have them rested to set up peak performances come championship time.”

Ronald Brookins, who tied his own 60M hurdle this season and currently holds the 55M and the 110M hurdle records, is just one of the many athletes focused on establishing higher marks in their upcoming meets.

“Our main focus is to continue to perform better,” Brookins said. “If we continue to perform better, we will break the records that we have.”

Even though Brookins holds three different school records for the hurdles, hestill finds areas where he can improve upon to better the times in his events.

“I’m definitely not satisfied with where I’m at,” Brookins said. “I’m really looking forward to this weekend. It’s going to be a good opportunity for me to run a lot faster and break the record again and lower myself on the national list.”

The team’s next meet will be at the Husky Classic on Saturday in Seattle at the University of Washington.

Brookins will be competing in the hurdles and long jump at the team’s third meet of the season. He will be aiming to lower his own record by a 10th of a second as well as set a new school record for the long jump by beating the current school record of 25-07.75 which was set back in 2008.

Even though the team’s morale is high after setting so many records, Raskeexpects a much higher performance from all of the athletes.

“Every single athlete knows they can improve,” Raske said. “We all know we still have a lot of work to do.”

Raske said the team is very motivated in not only competing at a high level, but also breaking many of the records.

“We’re pretty motivated as a group,” Raske said. “We have a wonderful record board that the athletes walk by everyday on their way to the locker room and its very motivating to see. Its nice to have their sights set on a goal such as breaking a school record.”

With two more meets to go in the season and the potential to compete in the conference and state championships, the possibility of breaking more records is certainly not out of the question.

“After just two meets, we’re just scratching the surface to be honest with you,” Raske said.

Anthony Honrade can be reached at [email protected]