One year after hiring Evan Magnussen to coach the Lakers’ cross-country program, Oswego State added interim track and field coach to his set of responsibilities. He has worked closely with senior Colin Greenseich and junior Dylan McCarthy, both setting personal and program records this past cross-country season.
Despite the additional role, Magnussen is not worried.
“The main difference is the number of things going on,” Magnussen said. “The distance group is the same kids from cross-country, so that was going to carry over. Adding the sprints, jumps, and throws on top of that, [something I’ve done] in the past, it’s really not anything unmanageable.”
A big help in the transition to the several events of track and field are his two assistant coaches, Curtis Merrick and Tyler Morris.
“Even when they are not on campus, over the winter, summer and spring break, [the distance runners] are always training, so that never changes,” Magnussen said. “For the sprints, jumps, hurdles and throws, we tend to break up practice so I get to spend time with each group individually during their main set of their workout. During warm-ups, the assistants take control.”
With that plan, Magnussen’s track and field program has seen some improvement. As for the women’s side, sophomore jumper Tylea McCarthy-Walker has improved meet after meet. At the first meet on Dec. 2, she had a 10.91m triple jump. Last week, her triple jump was 11.04m, good for first place at the RIT February Invitational. Her long jump distance that same day was 5.47m, which earned her second place.
McCarthy-Walker said it felt a little different because her teammates were up there with her.
“I know my [teammate] Sarah [Yensan] actually had the record at the same meet, and I was just really hyped for her,” she said. “Another one of my friends was winning the meet, and I was [excited] for her. So, I think I just get hyped for my teammates.”
The excitement McCarthy-Walker alluded to is infectious, considering how competitive track and field can be.
“It is a good competition because if we challenge each other, we all get better,” McCarthy-Walker said.
Greenseich is one of the many on this roster that understands how important that friendly competition can be. In the first two meets this season, he finished third in the 5,000m and set a personal record for the 3,000m with a time of 8:54.23. For the senior, the only place to go is up as he continues to improve meet after meet.
“I am hoping to run a personal record for indoor [track] in the 14:40s or 14:30s, but that would be a stretch,” Greenseich said. “I have been seeing a lot of progression in training and races, so I am hoping this weekend in Boston will be a good morale booster.”
His current best time in the 8,000m is 15:13.69, so shaving off over half a minute may be tough, but Greenseich has time to get there. With consistent training, anything is possible, as Magnussen’s athletes improve nearly every race.
“We have made consistent improvements over every meet we have been to,” Magnussen said. “We have 56 of our 60 people set [personal records], and those four who haven’t are matching their PRs and just not breaking that barrier.”
The stat is a testament to the work ethic every athlete on the roster has brought to the table. If Oswego State’s track and field athletes can continue to improve week after week and season after season, they will be set up for some tremendous success in the near future.
