Starting the season second in the ODAC with a very young group of runners, the Washington & Lee Men’s Track and Field team is more than ready to show off their new talents.

Junior Captain Levi Warring said that the team will face the challenge this season of rebuilding itself.

Having lost National Champion sprinter Zander Tillman last year, distance runners must compensate for his habit of high point-scoring.  The team predicts a higher reliance on the incoming runners for competition points.

Although the team now consists of many newcomers, they are looking to gain more depth in the season.  In fact, Warring believes this new depth will be a major strength for the team.

Team members believe the young runners will earn the team more points at meets through better distance and throwing events.  Charlie Zachariades, Junior Captain, said the team is now more well-rounded in its strengths.  With this regained balance of team abilities, the Men’s Track and Field team is expecting a successful season.

Because the team has graduated so many seniors, two juniors now lead the team as captains. The two captains see themselves as less-removed from the team since they’re younger, an advantage they believe will bring members closer.

“We focus on getting everyone to cheer on our team at events,” said Warring, talking about one of the many responsibilities he has as a team captain.

Unlike many collegiate sports, track and field competes in two separate seasons, indoor and outdoor.  The Men’s team recently began its indoor season, meaning different events, different tracks, and even different rules.  Events such as the weight throw are held only during indoor competitions, whereas long-distance events like the 10,000-meter run are added during the outdoor season.

The team finished third in the ODAC last season.  Rivals Lynchburg and Bridgewater will certainly be challenging competitors, but the team is confident in its ability to finish the season in first place.

The next upcoming meet for the Generals will be on Jan. 30-31, when the team will travel to Winston-Salem for the Hilton Garden Invitational.