Shelby Bradley | Staff Writer

Casey James, a senior sprinter for the Buena Vista University (BVU) track and field team, is from Lenox, Iowa and is a part of the record-setting 800m medley team that broke the school’s previous record while competing at the Viking Olympics in Rock Island, IL on Friday March 28. The team made up of James and seniors Maggie Marker, Katie Larsen, and Laura Eberly crossed the finish line with a time of 1:53.52.

James chose to come to BVU for two reasons: the first was head coach Jeff Brennan, and the other was from sitting in on a statistics class on her visit, taught by Professor Tim McDaniel.

“He was so thrilling to watch teach and you could really tell that he loved to teach the subject and I just couldn’t help but to pay attention and want to learn the subject he was lecturing,” James said.

James has been in track since the 7th grade, and her favorite part about the track team here is that they have become a second family for her.

“It’s nice to have a support team when I’m away from home,” James said.

James’ personal goals for the season are to score points in her individual events at the conference meet, which include the 100 and 200 meter sprints. James also runs in the 4×100 and 4×200, as well as the open 60 for indoor track. Some team goals for the Beavers include seeing more Beaver runners get in the top three in the conference and to qualify for nationals.

For James, being on the track team has meant coming together with people she used to compete against or have never met, and becoming a team that works together and pushes each other to get better.

“I’ve learned valuable lessons from my coaches and my teammates that I will never forget and will carry with me through life,” James said.

Graphic by Justice Gage