The Student News Site of Fitchburg State University

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The Student News Site of Fitchburg State University

The Point

The Student News Site of Fitchburg State University

The Point

Fitchburg State Track and Field teams canceled due to coronavirus outbreak

Fitchburg+State+Track+and+Field+teams+canceled+due+to+coronavirus+outbreak

Zachary Connell—

Fitchburg State’s Track and Field teams have received news that their season has been canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Both the men’s and women’s teams will no longer have the opportunity to participate in upcoming meets. Their season expected to start Saturday, March 21.  

It is has been a difficult time for sports with the coronavirus spreading throughout the United States rapidly. Track and Field in the springtime is an outdoor event, leaving hope that maybe it still be able to continue with its season. However, on March 16, MASCAC announced that all spring sports canceled, leaving seniors from the team in disappointment. 

“It is my senior season, and I had very high expectations for myself,” said senior captain Brianna Young. “I have been doing track for eight years, and to have this ending upsets me. I expected myself to have multiple bests and possibly maybe breaking a school record. I will not have the chance to know now.” 

The teams had a great bond and were looking forward to this upcoming season. 

“The team meant everything to me. I could not ask for a better team. There is so much potential on the team. That potential will take the program to so many places it has never been. The support of the team is one of the best things,” said Young. 

The seniors for both girls and boys did not expect their careers to end this way. There is a lot of frustration from the virus that put their season to an end. 

“One of my comments to my athletes is never to take for granted your sport and time.  It can end in a heartbeat. This is what has happened,” said men’s head coach Jim Jellison. 

Coach Jellison has been the men’s Track and Field coach for forty-two years, and this was something that he has never experienced. He was excited for this upcoming season because he knew there were individuals on the team that had big expectations since taking significant strides since the beginning of indoor track back in September.      “We were expecting an outstanding season as our freshmen, and the rest of the guys have made big strides since the beginning of indoors. Potentially two or three guys would have qualified for nationals,” said Jellison.

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