National Track/Field Championships

by Nathana Faddis — Panther Press

Long practices and dedication do pay off. YC athletes Aaron Beadle,
Shaylee Carlock, and Danny Cunningham proved this when they
qualified ealier in the semester for the NCCAA National Indoor Championships.

Nationals took place on February 20 in Cedarville, OH. York College was proud to be able to send three students to the competitions. This was special, because it was the first year of the track program, and they were already experiencing positive results and building for the future.

Aaron Beadle and Shaylee Carlock both qualified for Shot Put, and Danny Cunningham qualified in the 55-Meter dash. All three performed excellently. Sophomore Beadle finished 14 in Shot Put, but was proud of his finish, though anxious for his next shot at Nationals.

“If it is your first time, you may have problems,” says Beadle, “but I know the second time will be better.” He went on to call the experience “Awesome! It was probably the best experience of my life.”

Freshman Shaylee Carlock also completed in Shot Put in the women’s category. Freshman Danny Cunningham finished 24 in the 55 Meter
dash.

Coach Carver proudly spoke of their success, saying: “This was their first taste of collegiate track and field. The National Competition can be a little overwhelming that first time.They all competed well, and I am looking forward to their successes in the future.”

“A national competition at any level is a great experience and accomplishment,” Coach Carver observed. “Our goal is to at least double the athletes who qualify and bring home some All-Americans."

It’s a great start for the program, and it’s exciting to see what the future
holds for all of them. The best part about it is that there is still a whole outdoor season to focus on. Now it’s time to qualify for outdoor nationals.