Each year, the men’s indoor track team holds an inter-squad meet before Thanksgiving keeping track of times and records of runners, pole-vaulters and throwers.

Eastern head indoor track coach Tom Akers said this year’s meet shows good things to come for the season.

“Each year before Thanksgiving we hold an inter-squad meet,” Akers said. “We keep track of the guys’ records and look at how the guys did previous years. I was very pleased with how we looked this year. We did a solid job and I think it’s a good sign of things to come this season.”

Akers said he could not point to a single individual as more impressive than another athlete. However, Akers did say his young athletes impressed him.

“I was not pleased with one person but the team as a whole,” Akers said. “I was pleased with the young kids. They have shown a lot of potential and talent. That can be a heavy burden on young guys, but they work hard and have great attitudes.”

Some of the freshmen who have impressed Akers include jumper Ty Vanderkerkhove, middle distance runner Justin Helpinstine, middle distance runner Nick Kuczwara and jumper Rob Lawson.

Pole vaulting one of team strengths

One of the strengths of the indoor track team will be its pole-vaulters. The team has three athletes who can vault over 16 feet and Akers said he was impressed with freshman pole-vaulter Joe Noonan.

Noonan said college track is much different than high school.

“We do a lot more lower body work than we did in high school,” Noonan said. “The running is about the same though. This is however the highest I have been able to vault this early in the season.”

Noonan said teammates like sophomore pole-vaulter Dorian White have already impacted his training.

“We push each other in the weight room,” Noonan said. “He makes me add more weight all the time.”

Prepared for first meet

The indoor track season begins for both men and women on Dec. 8 at Lantz Indoor Fieldhouse against Indiana State.

Akers said the team is anxious for the competition.

“It’s our first meet and our guys are anxious for it,” Akers said. “We have a good match-up against them. They are strong in some events, we are strong in some events it should be a good battle. Most of the track guys have been training since early September and they are itching to get into it.”

Noonan said the team is physically ready but has to work on some of the technical stuff.

“Lifting and running I think we are up to task,” Noonan said. “Right now we have to concentrate and work on the technical stuff.”

White said the team should do well against Indiana State.

“Don’t know much about the competition, but we’ll do real well,” White said. “During meet you figure out more of the technical things and that will help us.”