The Allen Community College Track Team attended the NJCAA Indoor Championship in Lubbock, Texas on March 2. The women placed 19th overall, and the men finished 21st.

Freshman Yoel Yoel from Houston ran the 1000m, DMR (distance medley race) and the 4×8. Yoel placed third in the 1k during nationals and is very happy with how he performed.

“I was very excited with how I placed. All of the practices are starting to pay off and I am excited to see how the rest of the season goes for the team,” said Yoel. “My goal for the rest of the year is to pass all of my classes with good grades. I want to end my track season strong and hopefully get All-American for outdoor track.”

Another freshman, Michael Knowles, from Omaha, NE runs the 600m, DMR, 4×4 and 4×8. He placed in the DMR along with Yoel and placed seventh in the nation in the 4×4.

“Some of my goals for this year are to qualify for outdoor nationals and to be an All-American,” said Knowles.

More of Knowles’s goals include staying healthy, continuing to grow as a runner, and beating his personal records.

Breaking the school’s 800m record with a time of 2:28.21, is sophomore, Gemma Gonzalez.

Freshman Betty Ramos, sophomore Maria Puente, freshman Karen Perez and Gonzalez all contributed to breaking the school’s record for women’s 4x800m race with a time of 13:08:96, and placed seventh overall in the race.

The track team practices for hours during the day, in hopes of improving members’ skills. They have two more opportunities to compete at the national level, in Hutchinson and El Dorado.