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REVIEW: Track & Field Thrived on Improvements in 2020

REVIEW: Track & Field Thrived on Improvements in 2020
Posted: Apr 02, 2020

CHICAGO—The Illinois Institute of Technology indoor track & field squads endured leaps and bounds throughout the 2020 season. A trio of school records, and three more Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Individual Championships fell on the men's side, while the women secured one school record.

"Our indoor season was incredible," said Illinois Tech head track & field coach Tyler McQuality. "I am so proud of all our student-athletes' success on the track. What is more important to myself and the rest of our staff was the growth we saw in our program. Our culture is in a better spot; we still have a lot of work to do, but we are looking forward to the future with a lot of positive momentum."

The Scarlet Hawks embarked on six regular season meets in 2020, where Robert Mathis laid the foundation with a school-record mark of 7.17 in the 60 meter dash at the University of Chicago Phoenix Opener on January 11. 

Mminika Effiong kept the school-record trend going for the women at the University of Chicago Margaret Bradley Invite on February 22 when she eclipsed a 27.70 in the 200 meter dash. 

The 2020 NACC Indoor Championship resulted in three titles and a school record, highlighted by the men's distance medley relay squad of Evan Balizado, Louis Ketchman, Jacob Gagner and Thomas Doyle's time of 10:38.75. Their time secured them a NACC Championship, and school record. Balizado arguably put together the most dominate performance in school history as he secured the NACC Indoor 800 Meter Run Championship with a 1:59.01. Barry Brookins rounded out Illinois Tech's trio of NACC Indoor Championships with a 14.53m in the weight throw. As a team, the men took seventh place with 35 points at the NACC Championship while the women secured ninth with five points. 

The Scarlet Hawks ended the season at the Carthage Final Qualifier with the sole intention of shattering school records and career bests. Erin Nelson tallied a career-best 20:38.54 in the 5000 meter run, while Abigail Schulz notched a career-best 2:30.33 in the 800 meter run for the women. Thomas Doyle ended the season on a high note for the men with a school-record mark of 4:27.02 in the one mile run. 

Last chance meets are also used to stay on track for the outdoor season, but that momentum shifted elsewhere due to COVID-19.

"I was so excited for what the outdoor season was going to hold for us," said McQuality. "Our training was starting to come together but there are things more important than track & field and we hope everyone stays safe and smart during these unprecedented times. We look forward to the fall when our teams can come back together in the sport we love."