Freedom story #1

Strong Start for Avila Women’s Track Team

The past year for the track and cross country team at Avila University had a big change. Avila University is trying to incorporate more to the team`s competitiveness around the school and make all their programs solid and successful in order to attract new blood and new prospects to fill the open spots and give every day a more prestigious name to the university.

Therefore, in this intent of fulfilling the objectives Avila track team had a big change in their budget and hired a new coach as well as recruited over 20 athletes becoming a big sport at Avila.

After hiring the new coaching staff and with a lot of expectations the staff started hard work researching and contacting the best athletes in the country to persuade them to be part of the new program. Achieving big results recruiting national winners and top rated athletes for the program.

In the first semester of competing (last semester), the women cross country team for the 1^st time in the history of the university qualified for nationals with freshman Penny Fenn in the 5K competition. As well as beating 3 cross country records on the 1^st semester of this successful program. Therefore, generating plenty of expectations for the upcoming semester and for the program in general.

Last Saturday the women track team had their 1^st competition of the year and it went as expected. The team not only placed high on all the modalities they participated in but also got recognition and the attention from all those other schools that used to see them as easy competitors.  The women finished in fourth place, their highest in team history in an event with at least ten teams, racking up 60 points, also a program record

Leading the Women`s team was Jenna Jacoby, who picked up a pair of top five finishes in the Women's 100m and 200m, finishing fourth in the 100m and fifth in the 200m for the Eagles. Sophomore Kayvona Bragg also had a big day, placing second in the Long Jump and sixth in the 100m. Tenka Stringer also had a big day for the women, placing second overall in both the 1,500m Run and the 800m, picking up 16 of the team's 60 points in those two events.

Avila University initiative is very important and relevant to not only the runners but also the students and faculty that works every single day to make the program successful. Now a day’s sports have become a trend and thousands of high school athletes give their best to become a college athlete. Initiatives like this boosts the reliability of the school as well as their popularity and the willingness from athletes to join. Plus, it not only helps the athletes to fulfill their dream of being college athletes but also fulfills the dream of the school by giving the best education for future job and career opportunities on the market.