The ISU track and field teams got their first taste of action this weekend as they hosted the Holiday Classic. The event was the only meet before winter break, with the team’s next action not coming until January 18.

With the event being so much earlier than the rest of the season, the Cyclones focused on getting back into the groove of things instead of scores and times.

“There is always good and bad in any track meet with so much going on, but mostly positive today,” said ISU assistant coach Andrea Grove-McDonough. “I thought people showed some heart in the races and that’s what we want to see at this time of the year.”

The relaxed atmosphere allowed the team to work on technique and to ease back into competition mode after doing nothing but practices and workouts up to this point.

“It’s an opportunity, after working since early September, to see the hard work we have put in and where we are at right now,” said ISU assistant coach Fletcher Brooks.

Finding out where the team is at now is vital. All the time in between the first and second meet of the season will be used to continue training and work on specific technique things that the coaches noticed in the first meet.

“The technical mistakes that we have been working on getting rid of in practice tend to show up in the early meets,” Brooks said. “As much as anything [the meet] reveals what still needs to be worked on.”

Kelly McCoy, who won the women’s high jump event, said that the team will continue to improve as they get a chance to work on their technique and continue hitting the weights.

“We have only had a couple technique practices so far, so I’m looking forward to getting more technique days in and continue to work in the weight room because that will really help us,” said McCoy.

The month break allows plenty of time to fix any technique issues that need to be corrected, as well as another month of training before the indoor season really begins to intensify.

Jan Jeuschede, who won the men’s shot put event, noted that the opening meet can be difficult, because the team is still in the process of training for the season and the relaxed atmosphere can make it hard to compete at a high level.

“I wasn’t satisfied at all with my throws,” said Jeuschede. “We are still training hard for the season and my technique was off, so there is plenty to work on.”

While the team was happy with 11 first place finishes in the meet, they know they have plenty to work on before the Big Four duals on January 18.

“Overall, I thought it was a solid start,” said Grove-McDonough.