With their first track and field event under its belts, the Lethbridge College Kodiaks have hit the ground running. After both the men and women placed first place at nationals in the cross-country running season, the Kodiaks women placed first and men placed second at their first track and field event of the year.

Kodiaks co-coach Simon Schaerz said one of the benefits the track team has is a close-knit group. Most of the runners ran on the cross-country team together so a common connection is already built. Schaerz also says despite a similar group of runners; he is taking a different goal oriented approach this year.

“We sat down with each individual athletes and have looked at how they performed last year. We set goals as to what’s reasonable this year, what type of times, performances, or rankings.”

One of the runners on the track team, Sylvia Vongunten says the individual goals set for the runners have been showing results. Vongunten also that she thinks the team’s chances to see provincials in their future are high.

“I think our chances are very high, not to be over the top about it but I we have a strong team and I think everyone will perform to the best of their abilities, and that will put us in very good placing for provincials.”

Schaerz focuses most of his efforts on the long distance runners, whereas track head coach Bertil Johansson focuses more on the short distance track and field running. Johansson, who is celebrating his 30th year with Lethbridge College, says how one of the biggest challenges runners have between cross-country and track is the slight subtle differences.

“The event itself is competitively different because indoors you have to run on a 200m track. So running around, around and around 15 times can be very tedious and boring,” said Johansson.

The Kodiaks next indoor track meet is being held at Concordia University on February 6.