198SPRING ATHLETICS BENNETT TO WIN IT The Harding men’s track team recruits a new member from a social club track meet. SOCIAL CLUB SPORTS PROVIDED THE opportunity for members to compete in friendly competition. While some participated in sports for fun, others did so to relive their days of athletics prior to college. Club sports seasons typically lasted for a few weeks before the next sport was in session. The club track meet hosted on April 6, 2021 led senior Bennett Holloway into a longer track and field season. After participating in the high jump at the meet for men’s social club TNT, he was recruited by the Harding University track and field team to become a jumper. “I competed in the high jump at the club track meet, and afterwards some of my friends who were on the track team told me that what I jumped could score the team points at conference and that I should talk to Coach Hood,” Holloway said. “At first, I thought it was really funny, but the more I talked to people on the team and Coach Hood, the more I realized that I could potentially make an impact for the team.” Holloway credited his athletic background in high school despite not having competed in track events since eighth grade. “In high school I was very focused on basketball, which helped me develop the ability to jump,” Holloway said. “I continued a lot of my workout routines and habits throughout college because it’s a great joy to move, jump around and practice the sport I love.” Since Holloway was not originally a part of the track and field team when he came to Harding as a freshman, the impact he had was unknown to the program prior to his addition, but became evident quickly. “Bennett brought an excitement and positivity to our team last year when he joined us,” assistant track and field coach Jessica Withrow said. “He is hard working, kind, an encourager and dedicated to doing his best.” His contributions were also found on the scoreboard at track meets. “He was the only athlete on our team in the high jump to score points at conference,” Withrow said. Nobody was more thankful for the addition than head cross country and track and field coach Don Hood who recognized the improbability of finding a story like Holloway’s. “Finding a guy like Bennett is rare,” Hood said. “It reminds us that sometimes there are blessings in places we don’t expect. It never hurts to ask a potential athlete if they want to come give it a try.” WRITTEN BY JACKSON SAYLOR JUST DO IT Senior Bennett Holloway smiles with head track and field coach Don Hood. Holloway’s unique journey to the track reminded Hood that it didn’t hurt to extend an offer to a potential athlete. Photo by: Kaitlyn Cutshall
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