Previous cancellations due to COVID-19 have made Morningside track students nervous about their potential upcoming season.
Payton Boer is a senior at Morningside College and is a member of the track and cross-country teams. The team was able to have a successful cross-country season, where the women’s team made it to nationals. Which due to Covid, will occur in April.
Boer feels this success was definitely deserved and said, “Our team has been working hard all season long, it’s been a really special one and I’m excited to see what we can do at nationals.”
With the end of cross-country season, indoor track season begins. Or so it was supposed to. The team’s first meet was cancelled, and Boer is hoping it will be the last that is cancelled. “Things are getting really bad in Sioux City again and I really hope that doesn’t affect my final track season. Last year when we got shut down it was really hard, and I really missed it and I don’t want to go through that again” said Boer.
Two roommates of Boer: JoJo McKibben and Emalee Fundermann feel the same way. Fundermann is also a senior and says, “To have my last ever track moments taken away from me will suck so bad, I really hope we can continue on with our season.” Junior, McKibben said, “We worked the hardest we’ve ever worked this off-season and I don’t want to see all of that hard work go to waste. I’ve never felt better about my running abilities and I hope so bad that I get to compete at my best.”
Boer hasn’t been the most traditional student and has taken time off from Morningside here and there. If this season gets cancelled, she has to decide whether she wants to go another whole year to continue her running career. “This will be a very hard decision for me because I am so ready to graduate and continue on with my life. I’m 24 and most traditional college students have been in the workforce for a couple of years by 24. I will really be caught between deciding to continue running or move on with my life, and it might be the hardest decision I’ve ever made.”
Only time will tell whether or not this upcoming track season will occur. All Boer, McKibben, and Fundermann can do now is hope for the best and keep running.
