Marshall Track & Field Preview
By Ben Anderson, FM88 Sports
March 20, 2025
HUNTINGTON, W. Va. (WMUL-FM) — For Marshall track & field’s sprints group, what stands out the most is its depth with its high number of underclassmen.
One of the returning stars on the men’s team in sophomore Isaiah Harper said that the progression of the underclassman has been smooth thus far.
“I’ve seen them progress a lot,” Harper said. “It’s crazy some of the progression when you see them first come in and they’re not used to it at all.”
“Now we’re more than half the way done and it’s looking pretty routine to them,” Harper said. “They’ve bought in and put in the extra work.”
Harper said that the biggest strength of leading the team is the power of positivity.
“I just try to be positive, uplift people,” Harper said. “It’s very hard work sometimes. So whether that’s just making jokes or just letting them know that everybody’s here for a reason.”
One of the freshman male sprinters who stood out in the indoor season was Joey Bloebaum. Bloebaum set the second highest team mark in the men’s 200-meter dash and placed less than a second behind record holder Randy Moss.
Bloebaum said that the biggest lesson he learned during the indoor season was working on the mental aspects of track.
“I learned to just focus on myself in the race and not really worry about anything outside of it,” Bloebaum said. “When I first opened up the 21.80 in the first meet, I started getting nervous throughout all the other meets.”
“Finally locked back in, (during) the final meet with me and God,” Bloebaum said. “Was able to run so freely in that. Going into outdoor season its really just to stay calm, composed, and continue going into it with God and keeping the nerves away.”
Leading the way for the women’s team is sophomore Dezire Gee, who set top five marks last season during outdoor in the 200 and 400-meter hurdles.
“I plan to continue working on those (200 and 400-meter hurdles),” Gee said. “I feel like I’ve gotten stronger as an athlete. Feel like I’ve gotten better as well.”
“I started my indoor season out really well also,” Gee said. “I just feel like going into outdoor, its where I came from, it’s more of me.”
The Thundering Herd brings in a few mid-season transfers including Bay’Andria Hodges, a female sprinter from Tennessee Tech.
Hodges said that her main focus in training has been on the technical work.
“My block on starts have never been explosive nor the best part of my race,” Hodges said. “Having the coaches that actually sit down and go step-by-step. Your first step is too short, your arm (is) going outward instead of inwards, you’re not bringing your hands all the way up.”
“Having a coach that breaks that down and shows you doing it and shows you how to correct it definitely helps a lot,” Gee said.
Marshall track & field starts the outdoor season on Friday with the Hurricane Invitational hosted by the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla.