There’s no “I” in TEAM. Just ask the Aztecs.

Art Preuss

How many coaches would jump into competition again, just to help someone else break their own record?

We’re not sure, either, but it was nice to see that happen during the Aztec Track & Field Invitational.  It was the first meet of the season for the Pima Community College track squad and Stephan Bullard was hoping to set the bar high for this season in the 1000-meter run.

So Robert Seaman, an assistant coach for the Aztecs, ran the race with Bullard to help him set a strong pace.  The result was a school record time in the event of 2:28.77.  The record Bullard topped belonged to Seaman.

The mark would have qualified Bullard for nationals, but it wasn’t an outdoor event.  Although the meet was held outdoors, it consisted of only indoor events.  Huh?

Meanwhile, over in the infield, a couple of Aztecs on the women’s side were also teaming up to help each other to throwing victories.

Jessica Davis and Sharrisa Korn, both sophomores, have been training together in preparation for this season and are now ready to share the  success that comes with the efforts.  “We’re each other’s competition,” they told the Aztec Press. “We battle each other.”

Davis won the hammer throw with a mark just over 121 feet and then placed second in the discus, shot put, and javelin.  Korn was right behind her teammate in the hammer throw, taking second place.  But she won the javelin, hurling it almost 112 feet.

The women credit their success early on with a rigid program in the weight room.  And, along those lines, Chris Phillips pointed to improved practice workouts for giving him extra strength and endurance this year.  Phillips and Annalisa Loevenguth won the men’s and women’s 600-meter run, Phillips in a time of 1:23.17 and Loevenguth in 1:47.16.

The Aztecs have evidently hit upon something: hard work equals success.

Others stepping up their ‘game’ this year were the additional winners that gave Pima the team victory at the invitational:  (High jump) Gabby Siltanen for the women, 5’1″, and Daniel McIver for the men, 6’6″ (Long jump) Matthew Robertson with a 22-9 best jump, (Shot put) Christian Tovar with a 45-6 throw.

Pima takes its show on the road next for a meet at Central Arizona College Feb. 19-20.

(Pima CC photo by James Kelley)