Junior Bailie Barrington broke the university record for the indoor 1,000-meter run Jan. 24 at the Larry Cole Invite at Ohio Northern University in Ada, and freshman Caitlyn Renner broke the university record for the indoor long jump on Feb. 1 while at the Joe Banks Invitational at Ohio Northern University.
Barrington, a speech-language pathology and audiology major from Waynesfield, Ohio, ran a personal best time of 3:16.2 for the 1,000-meter run. This broke the old record of 3:20.6 held by Maddie Moore in 2012. Barrington also holds the record for the indoor 600-meter run. According to Barrington, she has been a runner for nine years but only a middle-distance runner for six years. Barrington’s main events include the 800-meter and 1,500-meter runs.
“I get motivation from each race I run and every workout, good or bad, the hunger to keep seeing times drop throughout seasons,” Barrington said. “But overall, my confidence has improved the most.”
Logan Wells, head cross country coach and distance coach for track and field, said Barrington has been training hard all winter after an up and down cross country season. He said she is a very strong track athlete and the shorter distances on the oval play on her strengths.
“Going into the meet we weren’t really talking about the record because it is an event that doesn’t get run very often,” Wells said. “Bailie anchored the 4×200 and 4×400 meter relays that night, so it was all about getting a good workout in more than running a certain time.”
Barrington said she likes to focus on how she will feel while running before her workouts and races. Barrington said putting in her best effort is painful but she likes to accept that and think about pushing beyond that point. She also said coach Wells has helped her get out of her comfort zone and focus on getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.
“The coaches have been great in pushing me and seeing potential in me that I don’t always see,” Barrington said. “Coach Wells has also been flexible with my training, allowing what works best for me personally and being open to suggestions I have about my workouts.”
Renner is a speech-language pathology and audiology major from Cairo, Ohio, and also a dual athlete on the volleyball team. Renner set a new record on Saturday, Feb. 1 in the indoor long jump, with a new best jump at 5.08 meters. The old record of 5.05 meters was held by Kendall Weber in 2013. Renner also runs the 60-meter hurdles for the team.
“I have had great coaches to help me improve in all aspects throughout all of my years running track,” Renner said. “I have had many times where I have failed, but I have learned from those mistakes.”
Renner said she strives to set an example for younger girls who also have a dream to run in college, and she wants to show them they can achieve their goals as well. She said the extra amount of time and reps she has put into workouts have had a big influence on her performance at the collegiate level.
Darrell Briggs, assistant track coach for sprints and jumps said he recently changed Renner’s training plan to three hard days a week with two recovery days towards the end of the week. He believes this training has worked well for her and continues to keep this plan and work to improve the indoor long jump throughout the rest of the season.
“During practices, I work on my technique and try to push myself to be better every day,” Renner said. “During my race or when I am jumping, I try to be positive and remind myself that I have prepared as much as I can.”
