18 Feb 2013
Sports Editor
Quentin Hope / Staff Writer
UNT track and field wrapped up its sixth and final indoor meet of the regular season this weekend as it competed in the Oklahoma Invitational in Norman on Saturday.
For some of the athletes, like senior multi-athlete Chelsea Hermes, this meet was another day of practice and another chance to polish their skills as the team gets ready for Sun Belt Indoor Championships.
“I just wanted to fine-tune a couple of things,” Hermes said. “It went well for the people who weren’t too sure if they were going to have a spot on the team come time the championships.”
Hermes was announced as Sun Belt Conference runner of the week on Friday along with junior sprinter Clinton Collins. Hermes feels she is ready to take on anything and anyone in the conference championships this weekend.
“I’m going to win,” Hermes said. “I’m seeded first, so hopefully it stays that way.”
The weekend sat well with the athletes who got a chance to compete in their final indoor meet ever in the SBC. Wanting to leave a mark for the indoor part of the season before making the move to Conference USA next season, junior weight thrower Charleston Lewis broke the school record for the second time this season with a throw of 17.68 meters.
“He works hard, he works really hard,” senior thrower Aaron Sirles said. “He deserves everything that he’s getting and I give my boy all the credit.”
Sirles placed fifth in the shot put with a toss of 15.21 meters. He feels his success this weekend came because of a change in his technique. His change from a glider thrower to a spinner is what he believes earned him a spot in the championships.
With the final moves made for all the athletes who had yet to earn their spot in the championships, sophomore distance runner Austin Yaeger continued his indoor season, running the 800-meters for the first time and taking home first place.
“I was really looking forward to getting the opportunity to run the 800, “ Yaeger said. “When I finally did it, I did well and it gives me pretty good confidence.”
The team is preparing for the championships, which will take place this weekend in Jonesboro, Ark.
