Courtesy Photo | Army track team poses during a morning training session at West Point, New York, June...... read more read more
Subscribe
By John M. Rosenberg
Warrior Transition Command
WEST POINT, N.Y. (June 13, 2016) – The origin of the term “three-peat,” referring to a sports team winning three consecutive championships, is open for debate. Some ascribe it to the late 1980s Los Angeles Lakers, or the San Francisco 49ers of that same time period. Others claim the term dates as far back as the 1930s. Whatever the case, heading into the 2016 Warrior Games three-peat is being heard quite often in Team Army circles, especially within the sport of track.
There is no Chairman’s Cup at this year’s Warrior Games. Nor are there any official team awards within the eight sports being contested. Among members of the Army track team, however, which has been dominant in Warrior Games competition the past two seasons, there is a definite awareness that, in the words of U.S. Army Veteran Spc. Haywood Range of San Antonio, Texas, “There is a bullseye on our chest” when it comes to winning overall gold, silver and bronze.
In a morning practice session Army Track and Field Coach Rodney D. Carson echoed the words of Col. Chris Toner, commander of the Warrior Transition Command, in saying “We’re not just here to compete, we’re here to win.”
During that same practice session, Team Army Resiliency Trainer Stephany Coakley ran the gathered Army track athletes through an exercise in which they were to visualize what it is that they most wanted to accomplish. Coakley underscored the fact that success at track, as with every sport, starts in the mind. “Funnel it in,” said Coakley. “Be the athlete you want to be. What is it that you want to get done… better starts, stronger finish, greater power, more confidence and composure?”
There is a great deal of pressure upon Team Army to win three times in a row at track, said Range, a former infantryman competing in his second Warrior Games As to himself Range exclaims that he feels good and is ready to compete. He also emphasizes that whichever team wins at track and field, as well as swimming, usually comes out on top of the overall medal count.
This year’s team has seen a few changes in the roster, yet is still anchored by a number of Warrior Games veterans. Among them is Cpl. Matt Mueller, a multi-medalist for Team Army in past Warrior Games. “We know we are strong,” said Mueller. “The new guys on the team are looking great. It will be up to us veterans to set the pace for the rest of the track events.”
For Mueller, a life-long avid runner who had to retrain his body after a roll-over accident, being able to compete at Warrior Games is something he wouldn’t trade for the world.
“We are highly motivated to go out and perform well,” said Coach Carson, now in his fifth year of assisting Team Army adaptive sports. He pushes his team to come out with the same attitude they’ve shown in previous years, and then some. “We are playing on our own turf— the sacred grounds of West Point, the most prestigious military academy in the world. Let’s go out and represent them big time,” said Carson.
| Date Taken: | 06.13.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 06.15.2016 11:53 |
| Story ID: | 201204 |
| Location: | WEST POINT, NY, US |
| Web Views: | 97 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Army track team training to win, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT