If there’s one thing I take pride in here at Binghamton University, it is the athletics department and how committed the Bearcats are to their teams, to each other and, more importantly, to winning. We have recently seen this commitment come to fruition with the men’s basketball team, and now the men’s track team could be the next squad on the rise.

Last season, the Bearcats did many good things, as they placed third in the America East Outdoor Track and Field Championships and set numerous school records in many events. However, this season they have been as successful, if not more successful than last season. The Bearcats finished second in the Army Quad indoor meet, took second in the AE Championships and have even had a player qualify for and participate in the NCAA Championships, sophomore Cazal Arnett.

Individually, Arnett has arguably performed better this season by destroying several school records in various events. He has also earned many accolades including Men’s Most Outstanding Track Performer, a Coaches Award for scoring the most points at a specific meet and has tied the school record for the most America East Conference titles in school history, with five. As impressive as all of this is, he still has two years remaining, so with a player like this on the team, there is even greater hope for the team’s success in the future.

In addition to Arnett, this year’s squad appears superior to that of a year ago due to the development of senior Joanel Lopez. Lopez specializes in the weight throw and shot put events, and he seems to get better with each passing event. He has set many school records as well this season and has been named the America East Men’s Field Athlete of the Week. One thing is certain, and that is when Lopez leaves Binghamton, the team will be losing a special player. He is not just a contributor on the field, but off the field as well, as he gives it his all in everything he does. Lopez is able to succeed because of his hard work and dedication, so once he is gone, it will be hard to find a replacement as talented as him.

With the loss of a great athlete like Lopez comes the addition of many new ones and it is something I very much look forward to seeing next season. Recruiting players is a huge part of having success for any team, so it will be interesting to see new faces and how quickly they can emerge as superstars.

Overall, the team has been very good in preparing for the next event and focusing solely on the task at hand. This is attributed to head coach Mike Thompson’s style of taking it one step at a time and making his players understand what it takes to come out on top.

With all of the hard work the players and coaching staff put into each event, it gives fans like me reason to believe a bright future is ahead and that the right steps are being taken to one day be considered with the sport’s elite group of teams.