As the Spring semester comes to an end here at EMU, I got the chance to talk to three members of the EMU Track and Field team; Bellamy Immanuel, Kendra Oguamena, and Alijah Johnson. I asked these students three questions: What are your goals for the last few meets? Are you pleased with your performances for the season? What’s one word you would use to describe this team?
When asked about her goals for the last few meets, Kendra Oguamena said, “My hopes are to drop my times and place top three in my respective events at the ODAC Championship.” Oguamena runs the fastest 100m and 200m on the team. Oguamena is also a member of the 4×100 relay team. When asked how pleased she was with her performances this season she stated, “I was very pleased…I know that I have the work ethic and determination to continue to perform at my best.” Finally, when asked to use one word to describe this team Oguamena said she really wanted to use more than one word to describe them saying there are many things. The word she gave was “resilient.” She described how as not just as a team, but as individuals, they had to get through so many challenges and adversity. Still having to deal with the complications that COVID brings, as well as bringing together a successful team on the sprinters side of the team was a challenge. However, she believes despite these challenges the team has worked incredibly hard and are getting the results they had been looking for.
Bellamy Immanuel is a freshman distance runner, who has run in the 400m, 4×400 relay, 800m, DMR, mile, and the 1500m. When asked about his experience with the team, being a first-year, Immanuel stated, “It’s been fun and rough.” Immanuel said he loves the competition the rest of the team provides and learning from his new coaches. Immanuel talked about how having excellent teammates has pushed him forward this season, as his times have improved. Immanuel said his main goal is a “sub-two minute 800m” and believes that if he can achieve that, he can help the team score points when it comes to ODACs. Immanuel said he would love to run a 1:57 if he can reach the sub-two area. When asked if he was pleased with his times, Immanuel said, “The previous two meets it’s been windy and I’ve been injured. No excuse, I would like to be able to run better in the wind. I am never pleased.” The word Immanuel used to describe the team was “immaculate.”
Alijah Johnson is a senior sprinter for the track team. Johnson runs the fastest 100m, 200m, and 400m on the team, while also being a member of the 4×100 relay team. When asked about his goals, Johnson said he wants to, “execute my race plans to my own tempo, and go into each race with a clear mind and feel healthy afterwards.” Johnson said he has been pleased with his performances, but at the same time says he wants more. Johnson stated he knows he can “push myself to heights I haven’t achieved before. The one word Johnson used was “youthful.” He said he believes that this team has tons of potential at all spots and is loaded with talent. They just have to “put the pieces together.” Johnson, a senior, certainly is a key piece for the team, not just for the times he runs, but for his leadership as well.
The writer of this article, Zack Furr, is a member of the track team.
