The University of Arizona Track & Field program is gearing up for the 2020 season that officially kicks off on January 10th at Friday Night Duels in Flagstaff, Ariz. With only five weeks left in the preseason, the athletes' training is in full force.
Back on the track of Roy P. Drachman Stadium is the Arizona sprint crew. Coming off of a solid 2019 season, the returning sprinters are looking to further improve their times while the newcomers are hoping to have an immediate impact on the team's performance. With a total of eight new faces, this group has had to make some major adjustments and adaptations. However, this has proven to be exactly what the team needed.
"Our biggest strength right now is our team dynamic," said sprints coach Francesca Green. "I feel like the returners have done a good job of taking the newbies under their wing and I think the energy and freshness that the newbies have brought in is also raising that excitement level for the returners. It's a fantastic dynamic to watch happen."
Although this is the largest group of freshmen coach Green has ever had, there are sure to be several familiar faces competing on the track this year.
"Someone who is next level training right now is Umajesty Williams," said coach Green. "He looks amazing and his attitude is great. He's doing a really good job right now and I can't wait to see how fast he runs this year."
Williams is a junior from Scottsdale, Ariz. who has been a standout runner since his freshman year when he set the freshman 400-meter dash record and won the 4x400 meter relay at the 2018 Pac-12 Championships. His sophomore season, he qualified for the NCAA Championships where he competed in both the 4x400 and 4x100 meter relays.
Williams is joined by other returning runners who coach Green believes people should be on the lookout for.
"This is PJ Austin's first fall training with the sprinters and he has been doing a great job. He's definitely someone to pay attention to."
Austin is a sophomore from Los Angeles, Calif. who competes in both sprints and jumps. His freshman season landed him at the USATF U20 Championships where he won the long jump competition.
On the women's side, some familiar faces include Neysia Howard, a Tucson local who is coming off of a solid freshman year that wrapped up at the USATF U20 Championships where she placed seventh in both the long jump and the 200-meter race.
"Neysia Howard's training has also been really good, next level as well," said coach Green. "I also can't forget Tatum Waggoner. Training has been great for her too. I'm excited for the whole group, for not only what they are going to do individually, but what we'll do in the relays and as a team."
Tatum Waggoner is also returning for her sixth year at Drachman Stadium. The All-American redshirt-senior from Phoenix, Ariz. last competed at the 2019 NCAA Championships where she claimed a top-20 finish in the 400-meter dash.
These are just a few names in a large group of talented athletes who exhibit coach Green's mantra of 'grind to greatness'.
"My motto is 'grind to greatness,' it always has been," said coach Green. "I feel like our biggest strength is our mindset matching up with that. They're not afraid to work hard."
The sprint crew is looking to carry this mentality over to the 2020 season and maintain the intensity that they have been bringing to the track every day this preseason.
"I'm happy with where they are at, I'm happy with what they are doing, I'm excited and I can't wait to compete. It's going to be fun."
The sprinters will officially be back in action on January 10th at Friday Night Duels.
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