Today will be the beginning of perhaps the busiest three days of Dustin Andrews’ life.
That’s because the Emporia State freshman won’t just settle for being in one national championship over the weekend — after all is said and done, he’ll have been in two.
Andrews, who qualified for the national indoor track and field meet in the high jump, is also a guard on the men’s basketball team.
Both compete in national competition this weekend.
“It’ll be fun. It’ll keep me busy,” Andrews said. “I’m full of energy.”
He’ll need to be to keep up with his itinerary for the next three days.
Immediately after today’s 12:30 p.m. basketball practice, Andrews will pack his things and drive to Kansas City International Airport with ESU assistant track coach John Gallagher.
Their flight to Boston — site of the Division-II Indoor Track and Field Championships — leaves at 6:45 p.m. and arrives at 12:45 a.m. (EST) on Friday.
At 10 Friday morning, he’ll eat breakfast with the team before competing in the high jump from 4 to 6 in the afternoon. Andrews is ranked eighth in the nation after clearing 6 feet, 10.50 inches at the MIAA Championships.
Following competition, Andrews will get a subway ticket to the airport, then take off on an 8:15 flight bound for St. Louis.
Once his plane arrives at 10:25, his parents will pick him up and drive him the three hours into Sedalia, Mo., where the ESU basketball team’s hotel is located.
He should be there by 2 a.m., giving himself plenty of time to rest before ESU’s 2:30 p.m. tipoff against No. 9 Southeastern Oklahoma State on Saturday.
ESU plays its first-round game in Warrensburg, Mo.
Andrews said he’d had a similar schedule at one basketball tournament in Houston growing up. At that time, a coach had dropped him off at the airport doors to fly back home.
“The biggest thing is I can’t get lost,” Andrews said with a smile. “At least, I hope that’s not going to happen.”
Four other Hornets
competing at Nationals
In addition to Andrews, two ESU men and one woman will be competing at the Division-II Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston.
Eric Wellman will be competing in the mile, Trent Olivier will participate in the shot put and Jonel Rossbach will race in the mile.
Wellman is making his second consecutive trip to Nationals after missing the cross country season with a stress fracture in his foot.
“I’m glad I made it. With the injury, it took lots of training,” Wellman said. “To get to be an All-American would be really important.”
The top eight finishers earn All-America status, and Wellman’s time of 4:11.10 puts him at 11th nationally.
Wellman said his goal was to get in the top three or four in preliminaries, then run his best race in the finals.
Because most races are tactical, his time might not matter as much as being smart during the competition.
“Last year, I didn’t expect the slow pace,” Wellman said. “Now that I know that could happen, I can be prepared for it.”
Olivier will be making his second trip in three years to Nationals. His throw of 54 feet, 8.75 inches was good for 13th nationally.
His goal remains lofty, as he’d like to jump five spots to earn that All-America status.
“It would be a big achievement, and that’s what I plan on doing,” Olivier said. “I’ll have to throw like I did to get there and maybe even better than that, but this is the time of the year to do it.”
Rossbach will look to earn her second All-America honor this year after becoming a cross country All-American in the fall.
“I’m pretty excited,” Rossbach said. “It’s a great experience to go against the best in the country, especially when you can go with others from your school that have worked hard.”
Her time of 4:53.76 in the mile is the second-best in the nation.
Rossbach, who said she’d at least like to earn All-America status, participated at last year’s Indoor nationals as well.
She said she would feel more comfortable this year after experiencing the event once before.
“I’ll be used to it, while others are not,” Rossbach said. “That will definitely give me an advantage.”
The two-day event begins on Friday.