Head coach of the women’s track and field Shawn Johnson-Hipp said their athletes perform many duties as a team and lean on their captains to set up off the field events because they are “like an extension to [the] coaching staff.”

Johnson-Hipp mentioned the senior captains of the track and field team are “key” to bringing the program together.

The squad has a total of 12 captains, six for the men’s and six for the women’s. Together the captains work to plan events, build a support system and continue to make the program stronger.

Travis Latzke, men’s senior captain, said his responsibility as a captain is to be a role model for the underclassmen and to help them when he can whether it’s for athletics or academics.

“[I want to] set a good example for the younger guys,” Latzke said. “Try to pass our knowledge to help them become good leaders when it’s their time to step up.”

On November 9, the team will have their 24-hour relay event which is a community service project for the Hamline Methodist Church. They will rake leaves for elders and in the process learn the importance of giving back to the community.

Women’s senior captain Keelie Sorensen is looking forward to the effect their team will have on the community. “It’s a good way to give back to the community and also put our name out there as people that want to help others,” she said.

Latzke explained that in the process of giving back the team is also doing something positive together. He said the time that’s spent during that experience will help build the team’s chemistry overall.

Sorenson said the team spends a lot of time together, on and off the track.

“We try to be a team on and off the field,” she said. “We’ll practice as a team and also have outside events as a team to build that bonding atmosphere.”

Throughout the season, the team holds team dinners and outside activities to bond with one another. Another upcoming event for the program is the annual recruit overnight.

The purpose is to provide 10-12 men along with 10-12 women who are considering to commit to Hamline University. The captains will welcome the prospective students to campus and have them spend the night. During that time, they will do activities with them to show what it’s like to be a member of Hamline University’s track and field program.

Johnson-Hipp explained that she likes the recruit overnight experience because it allows prospective students to learn about the program with the student-athletes.

“The best way to sell the program is to get the recruits with as many [Hamline] athletes as they can,” Johnson-Hipp said.

As members of the team are preparing for their season that will start next month, some are conditioning through a fall semester course called fitness.

Latzke said their goal is to improve their mark from last year.

“We definitely want to score more as a team and try to get some more MIAC Champions” Latzke said.

Sorensen agreed and is anxious to see how the first-years perform.

“[Our goal is to] improve individually as well as a team because we look at personal records as well as how we place as a team,” Sorensen said. “As senior captains, we want to push the underclassmen to be ready for when we leave to be able to take it even a step further next year.”

Senior Phil Rein is participating in fall fitness and is continuing his own weight lifting cycle to prep for the season.

“I want to be a great teammate first and foremost…I want to rub off on others in a positive light,” he said. “I want them to see my desire and my willingness to be a teacher and leader.”

Latzke explained that in track and field the “team” aspect is sometimes a trick aspect in their sport. However, he said the support within the team is one element that remains the same.

“I think when you’re running and doing an event you have other teammates’ cheering you on that’s going to give you more adrenaline…I think that’s the biggest part about being on a team.” Latzke said.

Rein has set some goals high for himself but uses that as motivation to help his team’s performance this season.

“I want to be the top guy every meet,” he said. “I’ve finally realized that every lift set and jump counts. It’s my last year and I have unfinished business on the track. I set lofty goals for myself not to think I will never reach them, I set them to reach them.”

The season for track and field runs from November to May. Latzke mentioned that in between the Outdoor and Indoor track season the team will go on a trip to California. He said it will provide the team with some added energy to keep the season fun.

“I think that trip will kind of help us energize the team,” Latzke said.

Sorensen mentioned the captains keep things light so athletes can enjoy their experience. She said athletes need “encouragement, space, and passion,” to get through the long season.

“We just try to keep it fun as well as intense at the same time,” Sorensen said. “We want to train but that’s what all the outside activities are for. So we put the fun into it but at the same time people have their time to have their own lives too.”