DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University's track and field teams will open the 2021-22 indoor season this weekend at the Visit Winston-Salem College Kickoff on Dec. 4-5. When the Eagles take the track at JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem on Saturday, it will mark 644 days since they last competed in an indoor event, when NCCU captured seven medals at the 2020 MEAC Indoor Track & Field Championships (Feb. 29, 2020).
This weekend will be NCCU's lone competition before the new year. The team will use this event to work off some of the rust before kicking things up a notch once the calendar changes.
"We utilize this first meet to spearhead us into the spring semester," NCCU Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Tavius "T.J." Walker said. "It helps us determine where we are, coming from the summer and preseason conditioning, to see what we have and to start our fine-tuning."
The Eagles welcome back more than 30 returners to the nest, including two-time MEAC medalist senior
Marvin Jones and fellow NCAA outdoor regional qualifier senior
Earl Green. They both earned conference hardware during the outdoor season and the leadership the veterans can provide will help the entire team.
"We are very excited about our returners and how they can utilize their experience to help guide and bring along the freshmen and newcomers," Walker stated. "It is essential that we have those individuals with experience, especially since we did not have an indoor season, and were excited about them having the opportunity to do what they love."
Even with the extended layoff, the expectations do not alter.
"Our team goal is to bring home double-digit medals," Walker said. "If we do so, we will continue to climb the ladder as we have done. We are excited about where we have progressively been throughout the indoor, outdoor and cross-country seasons, and it has been a continual progression within all three seasons."
Walker also spoke about what it will take for the team to have success.
"We have to put in the work in order to reap the benefits of it," Walker said. "Our student-athletes are talented, and we have to put in the work and gel together and understand that we cannot achieve our ultimate goal of a championship alone. It will take a cohesive effort from everyone."
