Boasting one of the best indoor track facilities in the Midwest, the Prairie Fire track and field teams continue to improve and succeed.
Knox track and field athletes have established more than 140 new school records since 2000, won 13 individual MWC conference meet titles, and claimed more than 50 all-conference medals. In their overall team history, the track and field teams have produced 17 NCAA Division III national meet qualifiers, four NCAA All-Americans, and one individual national champion in school history (Mike Pankey, 1989, 400 meters).
The Prairie Fire track and field teams compete and practice in the T. Fleming Fieldhouse during the indoor season and on Turner Track at Trevor Field during the outdoor season. T. Fleming Fieldhouse is one of the most popular indoor track and field venues in the region, featuring a 200-meter Martin track surface, runway venues for long/triple jump and pole vault, and a safety throwing cage. It was the permanent site of the Midwest Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships from 1995 to 2004, hosted the event again in 2007, and most recently in 2010.The traditional five-month track and field calendar begins with the indoor season in early January and ends with the Midwest Conference and NCAA championship meets in March. Indoor track practices focus on general conditioning, skill development, and preparation for competition. The schedule is comprised of five to six weekend meets and often includes two annual home events in T. Fleming Fieldhouse. The outdoor season begins immediately after indoor and features one home meet at Turner Track. The track and field season wraps up in May with the Midwest Conference and NCAA championship meets.
Prairie Fire track and field athletes have gone on to a wide variety of successful careers. They include Michelle Williams '92 (Chemistry), who is a physical therapist at Olympic Physical Therapy in Seattle, Washington. David Bates '78 (Political Science) is an attorney and partner at Gardere Wynne Sewell law firm in Houston, Texas. Daniel Breed '74 (Physics) is a research meteorologist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado. Jon Bell '94 (Political Science) is the director of the National Wellness Institute.
For more information about the Prairie Fire track and field programs, submit the Recruit Me form or e-mail head coach Mark Nelson at mwnelson@knox.edu. Also you are able to call him at 309-341-7801.
