Kevin Bonilla is a junior on the NYU men's track & field team. He will share his thoughts in this space throughout the 2012 season.
Written April 23, 2012
One of the jokes among the cross country and track team is that our season never ends. As we enter the locker room in August and, with the close of each season, see teams file in and out, we remain, a constant reminder that we do not stop.
From cross country in the fall to indoor track in the winter to outdoor track in the spring, we cover the entire academic year. However, as some days seem like the workouts and races will never end, there is always that moment of pause and reflection when we realize our time here is almost up. That time has now occurred.
With finals approaching in the coming weeks and registration for fall classes in full swing, we are 10 days away from the UAA Championships. The past eight months have come and gone, and more workouts than we can or want to remember are behind us. The reality has set in that if we want to run our best, the time is now.
The weeks following UAA’s are made up of last-chance meets to qualify for the NCAA Championships. The pressure is on as championship season is upon us. As I reflect on the past year, I am excited for the next couple of weeks, as this is when racing and doing well really matters. I am also a bit reminiscent, as it is sad to see something come to a close.
As we sharpen our speed and get ready to run fast in the last couple of races of the season, the new joke is, “Where did all the time go?” Building off our successful performance at the indoor UAA Championships, we are excited and ready heading into Carnegie Mellon next weekend, embracing the end of our never-ending season.
Kevin Bonilla is a junior on the NYU men's track & field team. He will share his thoughts in this space throughout the 2012 season.
Written March 7, 2012
Track and field, to people outside the running community, may not resemble a team sport in any way, shape, or form. To them, it is a group of individuals who run, throw, or jump to achieve their own personal bests. People participant in different events, and many track and field athletes advanced to championship rounds or meets alone, without their teammates. But, to those inside the track and field community, the athletes, coaches, family, friends, and fans, track and field is a team sport in every way, shape, and form.
The past two weekends, we participated in the UAA Championships and the D
III ECAC Championships, both held at the Armory. Unlike other meets, these were championship meets and not everyone on the team was able to participate. Only three people could be entered per event at UAA’s and a certain time had to be achieved to qualify for ECAC’s. So while not every member of our team was able to participate, the entire team was there, cheering on those who were running.
The support each member of this team receives from each other is tremendous. We all understand the pains and joys of racing because we have all experienced it with each other. Everyday, we run together, train together, go through the ups and downs of running together. By committing ourselves to this sport, this lifestyle, we have bonded as a team, as friends, and as a second family. Over the past two weeks, I have had the pleasure of cheering on my teammates and receiving the support of my teammates after my own races. That support gets us through the good races and the bad ones, and continues to build our synergy as a team. It did not matter if someone was racing or not; everyone was there to support each other.
As indoor track comes to a close this weekend with the NCAA Championships, NYU has two representatives, Matt Turlip in the mile and Maeve Evans in the 5,000m. But, those two will not be alone in Iowa. This team will be wishing them good luck, watching them race, talking to them after, and welcoming them back. Track and field may seem like an individual endeavor, but it is a team sport, and our success is very much influenced by the bonds we build as a team.
Kevin Bonilla is a junior on the NYU men's track & field team. He will share his thoughts in this space throughout the 2012 season.
Written February 21, 2012
The past weekend was not only a physical tune up for UAA’s, but also a mental tune up.
NYU is fortune to be hosting the UAA Indoor Championships this Saturday and Sunday at the Armory. One of the great things about running for NYU is that we are very lucky to train and race most of our indoor season at one of the best facilities in the country. When the opportunity arrives to share this experience with the rest of the UAA, the competition becomes fiercer than it already is.
Most Division
III schools do not compete on a banked track like the Armory. Even the NCAA championships are held on a flat track. Therefore, having the opportunity to compete on a banked track means that faster times can be run. This mindset, coupled with the knowledge of competing against strong runners in an extremely competitive conference, means that everyone is arriving excited and ready to run fast.
The results of the NYU Division
III Challenge this past Saturday gives us confidence going into this weekend’s championships. Personal bests were set as people hit qualifying standards for ECAC’s and potentially qualifying marks for NCAA’s. With tough competition from top schools, it was a great way to prepare for UAA’s.
It is exciting to be able to continue to race at the Armory, as we create a new type of energy where we are familiar with the runners we’re competing against, increasing our competitive spirit and hoping to defend the track we call home. It is going to be a tough two days of racing, both mentally and physically, as we fight to crown UAA champions.
We are excited to welcome the UAA to New York, and ready to take the challenge head on.
