Tarleton State University’s Track and Field team elected their team captains for the new season. The team voted senior TexAnn runner Claire Goodman and senior Texan thrower Hayden Eubanks to be the 2012 Track and Field captains. “They couldn’t have picked two better individuals,” said head coach Pat Ponder, “This is a well deserved honor for Claire and Hayden and I’m sure they’ll do a great job.”

“I’m so honored and humbled that my teammates would choose me to be their captain,” Goodman said of her elected position, “The job of the team captain, at least on my team, is not one of imposed authority necessarily but rather it is the position of an encourager, someone to keep the spirits high and motivated throughout practice. It’s important to get to know your trackmates on and off the track. These girls are not only my trackmates but have become true friends. We’ve lived life together, we’ve fought together and we’ve come through together. They help me just as much as I help them, if not more. They make me work hard everyday, they push me to paces I didn’t think my feet would go, and they make me take ice baths when I really don’t want to.”

Eubanks said, “It’s an honor and privilege to be elected by my peers. I am glad to know that they have confidence in me. As far as responsibilities, I’m doing my best to lead by example. If anyone is going to be late, absent or lack enthusiasm in practice, it is not going to be me. I’m glad to be associated with the teammates I have including track, field and cross country athletes. From what I have witnessed, they are all dedicated individuals and committed to the cause. Coach Ponder and Coach Hobbs do a great job of keeping us on task and progressing forward in our training. We are a small team compared to some others, but I think with us its quality vs. quantity with us. I am excited about the upcoming track season. I’m ready to see how myself and my teammates perform and compete.”

Tarleton opens the season at home for the Tarleton Invitational March 8. “We’re all really excited for the season to get started and also a little nervous because our first meet is normally away. This year, however, we start the season on our own turf so there’s some added pressure there. But its good pressure! It keeps us working to the fullest every day,” Goodman concluded. “It’s part of the captain’s job as well as the coach’s to keep the team goal-oriented every single practice… We are going to nationals. That is our where we are headed this year. That is what we strive for everyday. We have a new coach this year who is working us harder than we have ever been worked and who is super passionate about track and field, which is quite rare. He encourages us and doesn’t let us set mental limits. This really aids our efforts in getting to the national championship.”