COOKEVILLE, Tenn.—The Tennessee Tech track and field team has five standout members on the squad this season that have been game changers all year long. They lead one of the best teams in the Ohio Valley Conference and the South Region. The student-athletes of Na'Asha Robinson, Sarah Brandt, D'Airrien Jackson, Micayla Rennick, and Sharnique Leonce are the heart and soul of the Golden Eagle's track and field program: a who's who of the Ohio Valley Conference.
Their continued assault on the indoor school records is unprecedented in the history of Tech track and field. They are the catalyst that has propelled a struggling track program from the depths of obscurity to the heights of respectability and recognition in a very short time.
They will take their talents and skills along with their teammates to Charleston, Ill., in pursuit of a championship title this weekend.
"We have anticipated this day and prepared ourselves mentally and physically," head coach Wayne Angel said. "We are excited and cannot wait to compete. It's going to be a very tough meet. The OVC has a lot of parity among the top teams this year. We are going to try to improve on our eighth place finish from last year."
"I think that there are three if not four teams that have a shot at perhaps winning," Angel continued. "We're one of those teams and we are going to go and give it our best effort to make it a reality should the opportunity present itself."
"The team had a meeting without the coaches a while back and they sorted some things out," Angel remarked. "I believe in that meeting they found their true north. They are motivated and looking forward to the challenge that awaits them."
The Ohio Valley Conference Championships get underway on Friday, Feb. 24, and continue on to Saturday, Feb. 25. Festivities on both days will begin at 9 a.m. CT.
Photos by Thomas Corhern