Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to a more recent version of the original story published on March 11.
This year has seen Oregon State athletic teams excel across all sides of sports. Oregon State University Track and Field is looking to do the same through their spring outdoor season and their start has not disappointed.
In the Riverfront Invite the weekend of February 2 in Seattle, saw many OSU top 10 marks. Jada Hurley, a third-year sprints athlete majoring in biohealth sciences, broke OSU records in both the 60 and 200-meter sprints.
“I have the liberty to expand on those (broken records) and maybe do things that I never thought were imaginable for me to do,” Hurley said.
“We’ve been underestimated for a while now and under appreciated at the school,” said Payton Smith, a sophomore distance runner. Smith feels that they are often overlooked. She hopes the team can bring in a stronger fan base in coming years.
The OSU Track and Field team has lately broken many OSU records and has controlled the sport significantly. The Riverfront invite produced eight OSU top 10 marks across many events, including distance, sprints, throws and jumps.
Throughout their indoor season, the team consistently brought ferocity and determination to break records, podium events and destroy their competitors.
“We have been getting better across all the event areas. I’m really excited to continue to see the development of our throwers,” Head Coach Louie Quintana said. “They have put in some phenomenal work and I’m looking forward to watching them compete.”
Behind the many achievements the OSU Track and Field team has procured during competition is a framework of determination, dedication and a robust support system within the team.
“It all has to do with our team culture … We have great leaders, and I have great teammates that push me every day,” Hurley said.
Team members cheer each other on during competition, provide assistance when another struggles with injury and support each other with outside endeavors, according to Hurley.
“It doesn’t go unnoticed for those kids who are far away from home. They really take the time to make sure you feel the love and have that support,” Smith said.
The Oregon State University Track and Field team has been building a strong foundation of athletes on which they hope will produce superior results in competition. The addition of many new athletes sparks a new interest in what’s to come next.
“It’s now time for a new generation of runners to step up and lead our future success. We have such a great young group who are coming off a great indoor season so I’m excited to see their development into the outdoor season,” Quintana said.
The 2024 Outdoor Track and Field schedule features two at-home meets. The last meet will take place at the Whyte Track and Field Center on April 26.
