Blasting worship music through her headphones, Courtney King scribbles “ φοράω” on her forearm as she sits in corner of the indoor track. The Greek word translates to “fix your eyes” and is a saying King has held dearly all season long. The tradition reminds her each time she looks down upon her arm of the greater purpose she serves.
“As my coaches have taught me, it’s about staying positive and thankful no matter what happens, and then that is what puts me into the position where I can get personal records, and school records too sometimes,” said King.
And that’s exactly what King did on Saturday afternoon. AU hosted the Fred Wilt Invitational where the women’s team dominated across the board, breaking four records and winning the overall contest.
King was a part of three of those records, breaking her previous school record in the long jump which she set earlier this season. Now holding four school track and field records, King is considered unstoppable as she moves into the outdoor track season. But she is anything but expected. She doesn’t listen to typical pump-up music before games, she tends to hang out with her teammates rather than preparing for events in solidarity and looks to set team records over personal records.
Her teammates have made a mark this indoor track season, which concluded this weekend. King, alongside Rachel Truitt, Margo Sinclair, and King’s twin sister Ashley King, broke the Distance Medley record and won the event with a time of 12:53.41.
Courtney King, Truitt, Addy Takacs and Deborah Gardner set the new record in the 4×400 relay and Gardner later went on to add an individual record in the 400 meter race.
The AU women’s team was one to watch in Saturday’s contest with 17 Top 10 finishes. Sinclair was one of the AU standouts, winning the 3000 meters race with a time of 10:46.79.
“The women’s team this year is absolutely amazing. Everyone works so hard during practice and training, and we all encourage each other to push ourselves,” King explained.
With two-hour practices each day, the AU track and field athletes have been pushing to accomplish a lot this season. Head coach Brian Williams is pleased with both teams’ success. “I am pleased where we are at this point in the season. I think the thing that stuck out most during this indoor season was the way each person on the team competed. They have been fun to watch.”
The men’s team placed fourth in Saturday’s meet and had 18 Top 10 finishes. Garrett Cooley picked up the lone win for the men’s team in the long jump. Injuries have continued to plague the team, but with outdoor track season approaching, the men’s team has their eyes set on more victories.
“God has blessed us with an exciting and successful season so far with the best teammates and coaches around,” King stated. There is much for the AU track and field team to be hopeful for, and King has set the example of staying grounded and focused. “I’ve never been on a team that so openly believes in what each person is capable of and then pushed them to get there.”
The outdoor season begins Easter weekend and Raven fans are all encouraged to attend the Easter Invitational here at Anderson University. Outdoor track and field is sure to be full of more success for the AU track and field teams and more recordbreaking wins.
“All of the seniors are so invested and it really inspires the rest of the team to be as inspired as they are,” commented King. With one last track season left for the graduating athletes, it is their time to shine and all of their hard work to pay off.