Being an athlete has a magical way of bringing people together in a good way, and three freshmen on AIC’s Track and Field Team are proof positive of that.

Shayne Coley from New Jersey, Tahza Johnson from Connecticut, and Keyran Steele, also from Connecticut, shared their experiences being away from home and at college for the first time.

Steele is sprinter/jumper on the AIC Track and Field team – his events are the 100, 200, 400, meter dashes as well as long jump. With all these events he is going to be a force to be reckoned with this upcoming indoor season.

How was his transition from high school to college?

Steele said he has noticed the difference in being responsible for his own schedule, actions, and studies.

Track is the same challenge it’s always been, but he has the kind of passion for it that makes it seem fluid.

“If you want it to be hard that’s how it will be, if you want it to be easy that’s the way it will go,” Steele said.

Steele said he’s ready to compete at college level to see where his skill level is.

Johnson, also a sprinter, said she is looking forward to creating a bond with the team, the competition on the track, and working on getting better in her events.

Johnson said she appreciates being at a small college that feels like family.

“Campus is small so it’s not hard to find resources that you need,” Johnson said.

She said she feels ready for more challenges to make her stronger because she says so far college track is much more difficult than high school due to the fact that she didn’t train as hard back then.

Coley is also a sprints/jumper. He specializes in the 110 meter hurdles, 200 meter dash 4×100 meter relay and both long and triple jump.

Coley said he feels it is important to find the right balance between being an athlete and a student. He works hard at self-motivation and attentiveness.

“It can be more difficult than high school, but the Track and Field coaches are helping me along the way,” he said.