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Winner's Circle

Track Athletes are Academic Standouts

By Jessica Allen (Class of 2003)

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Click Photo to Enlarge Franz Petzold took part in some political campaigning during the fall break in Denver, Colo.

ORU's track and field teams have enjoyed great academic success in the past two years. Their cumulative grade-point averages have placed both the men's and the women's squads among the best in the nation, according to the NCAA Division I top ten listing.

"We're really excited," said Joe Dial, who has coached the track teams for ten years. "I think we're fulfilling everything the university stands for academically, spiritually, and physically."

The ORU women's team was second only to Brigham Young University in 2001-02, and in 2000-01, they edged out BYU for the No. 1 spot. "All the girls on the team have worked so hard," said Miley Turnbull, who competes in the 800-meter and mile events. Turnbull is a senior art education major from Muskogee, Okla. She says that balancing academics with athletics can be challenging at times, but it teaches her to be disciplined. "Knowing that one of the main reasons I'm here is for academics, pushes me to achieve academic goals," she said.

Franz Petzold, a 110-meter hurdle runner for the men's team, agrees with Turnbull. Petzold is a junior business management major from Germany. He is pleased that the men's team ranked tenth in the nation for 2001-02, and attributes that success to discipline. "The discipline that you have to apply every day in practice will also help you in academics-but not just in academics...in work and in everything else," he explained. "It's just a matter of applying that discipline to other things."

Petzold is undaunted by the task of balancing track and schoolwork, although he will admit that track is very time-consuming. The teams practice regularly at 4 p.m. every day during the season. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays they do interval workouts, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays they do longer runs and weight training.

This schedule has contributed to a comfortable class="text" atmosphere among the track athletes. "I love the family aspect of our team," Turnbull said. We work out hard together." Both Turnbull and Petzold concur that some of their closest friends are fellow teammates, and these relationships are the best part of being on the team. Though they must often sacrifice free time and involvement in social activities, Turnbull and Petzol are very committed athletes. "I am very happy to be running," Turnbull said.

The two share high aspirations for the future as well. Turnbull hopes to teach in Columbia, Mo., after she is married this summer. Petzold plans to stay in the U.S. for another year, and then return to Germany to start his own business.