Excitement is building as the Saint Anselm Track and Field Team is set to begin their inaugural season. A program that has been in the works for years is finally coming to fruition. Since the beginning of the academic year, the team has begun practices in preparation for this penultimate moment of their first meet. 

While the school prepares construction of the new track facility, which is set to be built in phases, the team is practicing off campus. However, this may be an inconvenience, the excitement couldn’t be higher.

College President Joseph Favazza said in a press release said in regards to the impact of this new facility “The addition of track & field at Saint Anselm is a key strategic initiative that will also drive ongoing athletics recruitment.” 

It is clear and evident that the Track and Field Team is going to make a positive and significant impact on the Hilltop for years to come. On a player level, I was able to sit down with some members of the team. 

I asked Colby Lynch ‘26 what the excitement level is like within the team to start the season and he said “It’s an amazing experience to get to be apart if the first team. There’s a lot of buzz on the team about the upcoming season. All of us are really excited to show what St. A’s can do.” 

I asked Captain Anthony Pasquarosa ‘25 the same question and he gave a similar response. The junior captain said “The team is very excited, all the new students are so great and everyone has been getting along so well. I think we have bonded a lot over a common goal of excitement to compete.” 

Needless to say the team is buzzing with excitement to represent Saint As in a competitive and positive light. In terms of practices, the consensus was tough but useful at the same time so the team can hit the ground running at the start of the season. 

Senior Captain Caroline Codner shared that “Practices are definitely difficult, but Coach Early and the rest of the coaches are really getting us ready to make a statement in the NE10 this year.” There is a genuine, confident feeling around the team that Saint As can pull out a NE10 championship in year 1. 

I asked Lynch, Codner, and Pasquarosa their feeling of this team winning the conference right away and each of them said “100% yes we can! This team is going to turn heads.” 

While the track facility is yet to be complete, the biggest question is where the Hawks will be competing in the meantime till construction is complete? The short and unfortunate answer is that the Hawks will have to wait to have home meets this first season. 

They will be competing in away matches all season until the track is complete. However, Saint Anselm has gained a team that is poised, determined, and passionate about representing the Hilltop and are ready to make serious noise in the NE10 in their first season! Get ready for November because the Hawks Track and Field team are ready to show that Hawks Soar Higher!