By Tikaya Jones
Photo Credit to Tikaya Jones
The Judson Eagles Track and Field team traveled to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) for the Cougar Classic meet April 12th, 2025. The men’s team placed 9th overall, while the women’s placed 10th overall.
Judson is a NAIA school competing in Division 1 meets this season, and the team has been able to compete. Caleya Holmes and Trey Sheron have been excelling since the indoor season. Both Holmes’ and Sheron’s first two outdoor meets have been characterized by determination and hard work. As freshmen, these two have shown that they are determined to perform better each time they compete.
Trey Sheron placed 1st overall in the 100-meter dash running a 10.74. He then went on to run the 200-meter dash placing 4th overall with a time of 21.84. Shermon’s 200-meter dash time broke the school record, and his 100-meter dash time tied with Ian Wiggan, the current record holder. Sheron sets specific goals for himself. He says, “My goal for next meet is to break 10.6 in the 100m and to break 21.6 in the 200m.”
To achieve these ambitious times, Sheron focuses on preparation within his control. “I’m going to make sure I’m doing everything I can in my control to perform at my best,” he explains. Throughout the season, Sheron maintains his focus by “setting constant goals” for himself and by creating a framework for continuous improvement. When facing pressure, he relies on mental preparation techniques by “trusting my training and visualizing myself constantly throughout the week running the perfect race.” This visualization practice helps him maintain composure and execute his race strategy when it matters most.
Celeya Holmes placed 11th overall with a time of 25.86 in the 200-meter dash. Holmes also competed in the 400-meter dash placing 6th overall with a time of 59.17. These times place her as the second fastest Judson Eagle when it comes to 200-meter and 400-meter dash. While Holmes felt her performance was “okay,” she believes she “could have definitely done a lot better.” Looking ahead, she aims for a personal record in both events, particularly seeking “a major PR in the 400 and the 200.”
To achieve these goals, Holmes maintains a disciplined approach, “training like crazy, eating right and not entertaining anything” that might distract her focus. “Track season is very mentally draining,” she explains, especially when performances don’t meet expectations. Holmes stays motivated through music and prayer. Though Holmes admits that “the nerves get to me,” she handles pressure well by giving her best effort in every race. She views pressure as a mental block, and once it’s overcome, it allows athletes to do anything.
The two freshmen and the team have a chance to further improve throughout the rest of the season as they continue compete.
The Judson Mosaic 