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There are some things in life that I simply cannot fathom -- leaping over a bar seven feet in the air, running a half mile in less than two minutes, throwing a discus nearly 200 feet, or the ability to run a quarter mile under 60 seconds with hurdles in your path.
I had the opportunity to witness ALL of these feats first hand when I attended a University of Northern Iowa Track and Field meet. Some of the premier athletes in the world are living and training right here in the Cedar Valley and you have a chance to watch them compete.
Coming off another top-10 team finish at the 2008 NCAA Indoor Championships, the Panther men’s track and field team has reloaded and is carrying another top-20 national ranking. UNI is ranked ahead of perennial track and field powerhouses Baylor, Nebraska, and of course, instate rivals Iowa, Iowa State and Drake.
Long time Panther head coach Chris Bucknam has left, but in his place is someone with just as much passion and love for UNI Track and Field. First-year head coach Travis Geopfert has brought a tidal wave of new energy and excitement that is pushing the student athletes to new heights this year.
“We have a great group of kids that are working their tails off to get better,” Geopfert said. “Being successful is all about attitude and effort. That's all a coach can ask for and we have that!”
UNI returns last year’s NCAA 800 meter Indoor National Champion Tyler Mulder for his senior campaign. He has earned six All-America citations along, captured eight Missouri Valley Conference titles and has claimed All-MVC honors 12 times. The Panther men also return an additional four All-Americans from last season. Mat Clark, Cory Goos, Ryan Grenko and Ehi Oamen each will be vying to become a national champion in their respective events.
The Panther women return a solid group of multi-event athletes, as all four athletes return from last season’s squad that finished first, second, third and fifth at the Valley Championships in 2008. Olimpia Nowak set the UNI school record in the pentathlon last season and Dani Stipe followed closely behind taking the runner-up spot, while Alyssa Fischer and Rachel VanderHolt also earned all-conference honors.
UNI’s Track and Field program isn’t just centered around a handful of individual athletes. The balance and depth the team boasts on both the men’s and women’s side is evident as the Panthers compete for the Missouri Valley Conference title. Last year, UNI became the first school EVER to win both the Men’s and Women’s Indoor and Outdoor MVC team titles. March 1st they tried again at home in the UNI-Dome.
“It's a fun, exciting atmosphere watching a meet in the Dome,” stated Geopfert. “We have music cranking, the video board going, and there is always something to watch. Here at UNI we have a number of our current athletes that are ranked in the top 50 in the world. There is an opportunity to see some of the best athletes on the planet right here at UNI. It's pretty amazing what some of these athletes can do!”
Spectators come out on a consistent basis to support other sports programs offered at UNI such as football, volleyball, basketball and wrestling. Unlike those sports, there are very limited opportunities to catch the Panther Track and Field team in action right here in the Cedar Valley.
“Seeing someone jump over 7-3 in the high jump, 18 feet in the pole vault and 26 feet in the long jump is absolutely amazing to see live,” Geopfert said. “Think about a person jumping over the height of your doorway in your house. Or using a pole to catapult themselves on top of a two-story building. Just step off 26 feet in your house and look at how amazingly far that is. It's something you must see to appreciate.”
The UNI Track and Field program is looking for your support at the Mark Messersmith Invitational on April 18th at the Outdoor Track Facility. This is a wonderful opportunity to watch national champions and witness college kids accomplishing some jaw-dropping physical feats.
Eric Braley is host and producer of “Panther Sports
Talk,” a weekly UNI Sports TV show airing Sunday
nights on KWWL after the 10:00 news, Monday and
Wednesday nights on Cedar Falls Utilities Cable TV
and Thursday nights on Cedar Falls Community Television.
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