Sometimes it only takes one person to catch a bug before it becomes contagious. With time, that bug can become an epidemic.
For Kyle Kepler and the U track and field team, they hope the enthusiasm bug sophomore Chelsea Shapard caught at nationals this past spring becomes an outbreak in 2008.
Shapard was one of two Ute athletes who qualified for nationals last year. There, Shapard qualified for the preliminaries of the 400-meter hurdles, finishing with a time of 59.49, which was good enough for 18th place.
Shapard’s performance has helped her formulate some lofty future plans.
“My ultimate goal is to make it to the Olympic trials,” she said.
Whether she makes it there or not, qualifying for nationals has given Shapard a boost of confidence — something she hopes will spill over to her teammates.
“The team can finish in the top four of the Mountain West Conference. This is more than possible,” Shapard said. “We are young and more understanding and ready, we have more to prove than (that) we are just qualifiers. We want to show the rest of the country we know what big time track is all about.”
With Shapard as a team leader and Kepler as a developing young coach, the Utes are capable of making even more progress in 2007-2008.
“The 2006-2007 season was a solid year for our program; we either improved or maintained our standing in the Mountain West Conference,” Kepler said. “We finished sixth at all three championships cross-country, indoor track and outdoor track…we return a lot from this team to next year so we are confident that this team will grow towards our ultimate goal.”
Lennie Mahler