From hamstring pulls to sprained ankles, Southeast's track and field team has been overcoming many hardships this season and is striving to finish strong.

This year, there have been many injured athletes. A lot of the athletes have recently just started competing and are getting ready for the Redhawks Invitational meet which was held on Feb. 17.

Junior sprinter Haile Wilson is the fastest 55-meter sprinter at Southeast right now.

"When that gun goes off, there are no other thoughts but to just run fast," Wilson said.

Wilson recently has had issues with his hamstring, but that has not stopped him from practicing and he plans to return. Wilson is often recognized by his signature skateboard riding at Southeast, but not everyone realizes he has won gold in the Ohio Valley Conference championship and is ranked ninth in the nation for the 55-meter dash.

"I try to race against myself," Wilson said. "When you're running in a race where time basically skips, it all comes down to hundredths of a second."

Head coach Eric Crumpecker is proud of the team's recent accomplishments. He has high hopes for what the team can do once everyone is back at full health, but that hasn't stopped a number of athletes.

"Kaitlyn Shea has been outstanding and she has almost broke the 3,000-meter record," said Crumpecker.

Along with Shea, Sydney O'Brien also received a personal record for the 3,000-meter race. O'Brien clocked in at 10:12.07 at the Missouri Invitational on Jan. 20.

"A lot of the goals are independent. We have [senior] Chris Martin, [junior] Jarred Pasley, [junior] Wesley White and many others are big factors for this upcoming meet," cross country coach Ryan Lane said.

The men's team was placed second overall in the OVC for the Redhawks Invitational, and the coaches believed the team had a good chance of winning the meet. This is important because athletes like Pasley are trying prepare for nationals.

But Pasley was not the only person to set a new facility record at the Redhawks Invitational. Martin leaped 15.63 meters and is now the new record holder for indoor at Southeast.

For the full story, visit SoutheastArrow.com.