Image courtesy of goredbirds.com
NORMAL Ill- The Track and Field Outdoor season is on its way for the Redbirds.
The redbirds are expecting to go against the Fighting Illini in the Illini Classic this Friday and Saturday. The last time the redbirds were in Champaign was on February 18 during this past indoor season. In the indoor match the Women’s team placed first and the Men’s team placed second.
Prior to this meet, the redbirds had taken part in the Redbird Invite, where the team had swept in sixteen events. The men and women’s teams both placed first in Invite.
Goals can help build up structure for the season as a whole. Teams try to build from the year prior. Recently, 5th year Brandon Gage talked about the goals for the season.
“As a team, of course we want to win conference. We got second four-years in a row now. This is the fourth year we got second indoor, outdoor we’re trying to get first. We’re trying to get first. We’ve yet to win an outdoor conference. Our closest win was by one point, we lost by one point and that was in 2019- 20.., 2018-2019 season. So this year, we definitely want to be conference chaps for the outdoor season. That’s probably the biggest team goal right now,” Said Gage
Since the Outdoor season has started, one can argue the transition from indoor to outdoor can be difficult. For Brandon Gage, he talked about the transition from indoor to outdoor season.
“So the transition, you know, I’ve started to make it more seamless. I’m a fifth year so of course my 5th year, transitioning. Running the 400 there’s four curves I have to run, now it’s only two. Which would you know be faster in my position. So now it’s pretty easy for me to make the transition, indoor to outdoor,” Said Gage
Following the Illini Classic, the redbirds are expected to take part in the Redbird Challenge on April 15- April 16.