By Jared Fields, Editor in Chief
On paper, the men’s team is 20- point underdogs to St. Augustine’s. However, with 17 men competing at this weekend’s NCAA Division II Indoor Championships in Mankato, Minn., the rankings on paper don’t mean too much.
“I feel like we’ve got as good a shot as any,” said head coach Don Hood. “It’s the best indoor team we’ve had since I’ve been here.”
Although the men have won the outdoor championships the last six years, it’s been two years since they have won the indoor title.
Not only is a long winless streak at stake but the chance of winning a coveted “triple crown” – national championships in cross country, indoor and outdoor – is as well.
“It’s a shot at history with that triple crown,” Hood said. “I think the focus is right; workouts have been good, and everyone’s healthy. If we ever had a shot at doing it, this is the best shot we’re gonna have.”
The difference between a championship and second place comes down to many factors.
For example, ACU has four men- Cory Altenberg, Aaron Cantrell, Landon Ehlers and Stephen Toler – competing in the pole vault compared to zero for St. Augustine’s. However, ACU’s highest ranking pole vaulter is seventh. To offset the depth there, St. Augustine’s high jumper – an event ACU has no one in – ranks far ahead of the next best high jumper.
“If something can get us kickstarted . that’s usually what makes it a good meet,” Hood said. “There’s an opportunity for a lot of guys to step up and be heroes.”
That kick start will come Friday when most events run preliminaries. The only finals ACU competes in Friday will be in the men’s long jump and the men’s distance medley relays. The men rank fifth in the DMR, which counts for double the team points because it is a relay. It’s also another difference-making event because St. Augustine’s does not have a DMR competing.
Compared to last year when the men placed second, the men have more depth, and more health. The team took 12 men last year and two didn’t compete because of injury.
Hood said the added depth has him “more at ease.”
“We’re a lot better off than we were this time last year,” Hood said. “It’s a whole lot different feel than it was last year. It’ll be fun to see what happens.”
One of the men waiting to see what happens is freshman Desmond Jackson. For Jackson, who ranks fifth in the 60m and 200m, this meet is the first important collegiate meet of his career. Jackson competed in the Texas state high school championships last year, where he finished fifth in the 200m for Midland Lee.
“That’s why this one has my nerves up,” Jackson said. “I know with it being a large crowd, the pressure and all that, that’ll help a lot with having that experience.”
Jackson isn’t the only athlete hoping to pull from previous experience. Just one guy – Julius Nyango outdoors in the 800m – on the team has won an individual championship.
“I feel like we’ve got more depth with more guys going,” Hood said. “More to fall back on. Last year our top two sprinters were injured. We don’t have any of that this year.”
Despite all the variables- health, confidence, depth, matchups – the meet still comes down to the team who has the best meet.
“It’ll come down to who’s on,” Hood said.
