This weekend, the NC State Wolfpack will host the Raleigh Relays Track meet. The annual event regularly attracts high school and college teams as well as professional athletes from around the globe. Over the years, the meet has garnered much prestige throughout the track & field world.
This year, The Paul Derr Track and Dail Soccer Field will feature a dense schedule of 50 events over the course of a two-day period.
Many Wolfpack competitors look to this meet as a valuable part of the transition from the indoor circuit to the outdoor surface.
Redshirt senior Nicole Chavis will be competing in her last Raleigh Relays for the Pack. During her illustrious career, Chavis broke the indoor weight throw school record and recently placed fifth at NCAA Indoor Nationals in the event.
This weekend she will be competing in the discus and hammer throw.
The transition from indoor weight throw to outdoor hammer throw is a challenging one that the Lumberton, North Carolina native embraces.
“During indoor with the weight, I did one turn which is really simple but with the Hammer, it’s a lot lighter and you have to do a lot more turns,” Chavis said. “Footwork is very important. I have to re-train my feet and body to turn again. That has been a work in progress.”
For the discus, her focus is on improving mentally for the event.
“The discus is just turns in general so I’m working on staying back and waiting on my throws to actually come instead of forcing them to come,” Chavis said.
Chavis has her eyes set on achieving personal records in both events this weekend.
“The goal is to try to get very good throws and set [personal records],” Chavis said.
Ultimately, this season the school record holder is focused on qualifying for her first ever NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
“My end season goal is to [qualify for] regionals in both events,” Chavis said. “I would love to also qualify for one if not both for NCAA [Outdoor Nationals]. I’ve never been to NCAA Outdoor Nationals and it’s time to go. There’s no better time to do it than my last year. This is my last chance.”
Many Pack competitors also look forward to competing in front of the energetic home atmosphere.
For junior Sam Parsons, the home atmosphere of the meet is valuable.
“It means everything. I’ve been injured the past few years for this exact meet,” Parsons said. “So many teammates run phenomenally and have that Raleigh Relays magic. It’s such an opportunity to run on your home track in front of your home fans. The familiarity we have with this track is great. It’s going to be an exciting night and I can’t wait [to have] the home crowd cheering us on.”
Parsons will be running in his first Raleigh Relays. The Newark, Delaware native proved a key part of the Pack men’s cross country team during the fall and placed 11th at the ACC Indoor Track championships in the 5,000-meter event.
Parsons intends to race the 10,000-meter run on Friday. Though familiar with this distance on the cross country course, Friday will be his first attempt at the distance on a track surface.
“I’m excited. This is my first time running the 10,000m outdoors so it’s going to be a great experience,” Parsons said. “I was planning on running a 5,000m, but Just a few days ago, Coach Geiger said ‘hey man, this field is phenomenal. The 10,000m field is one of the best it’s ever been at Raleigh Relays and conditions are perfect. Let’s go for it’. I have 100% faith and trust in my coach so I’m going to go with it, trust it and see what happens.”
Ultimately, Parsons is grateful for the opportunity to still compete.
“I was injured last year and didn’t know where running was taking me,” Said Parsons. “But now I’m healthy and running strong. It’s really a blessing that I’ll be able to put on the NC State Uniform. I’m not going to take any race for granted.”
When it’s all said and done for this year, Parsons sees himself representing NC State on the national scene at NCAA Outdoor Nationals.
“If you can believe in yourself, trust your coaches and love your teammates you’re going to find greatness and be successful in this sport,” Parsons said. “If I can do those three things, I know that I’ll be able to continue on, work hard and qualify for nationals and represent NC State in Eugene, Oregon in June. That’s the big goal.”
Competition kicks off this Friday with the Women’s 5,000-meter run. After several successful performances at last weekends Dennis Craddock Relays, the Wolfpack is poised to continue this positive momentum at home this weekend.
