Out of all the people who have graduated from Saint Louis University, only four can say they have participated in the track and field program since its conception four years ago: Matt Alexander, Austin Critchlow, Brian Poludniak and Lauren Verzal.

“It’s a special moment…There have been some ups and downs, obviously, but they’ve earned it. They haven’t been given anything,” Head Coach Jon Bell said.

These seniors will lead the way for a group of runners and throwers that will take on a significantly tougher schedule than has been typical in past seasons for the track and field program.

“As we get more and more talented kids in the program, we’re going to bigger and bigger meets each year,” Bell said.

This year’s ledger includes historical meets such as the Kansas Relays and the Drake Relays. But Coach Bell said he gets excited about any competition.

“It could be Wash U, Drake Relays, the A 10 or the Olympic Trials-I look at every meet as an opportunity to run fast and put forth a good performance,” Bell said.

Freshman hurdler Dahmar Smiles is also excited about the schedule this year.

“Now with the recruiting class Coach Bell brought in, we have the talent to go to some of the big name meets and run against the big name teams,” Smiles said. “Usually that’s how you get a feel for what it takes to be a Division 1 athlete. You have to run against the bigger teams to get to that point.”

As far as what to expect, Bell said his men’s and women’s teams have different strengths.

“Our men’s team and our women’s team are vastly different. On the women’s side, our distance runners are the strength,” Coach Bell said.

Bell also said that the women will have to overcome the fact that they will be slightly shorthanded.

“We have small numbers but they are all very talented. They quantity is very low, unfortunately, but the quality is high,” Bell said.

Bell said the sprinters will carry the men’s squad.

One such sprinter, Smiles, looks forward to the transition from indoor to outdoor.

“I’ve been waiting for it,” Smiles said. “I’m a better outdoor runner.”

Smiles said he accomplished everything he wanted to during the indoor season, but he has lofty goals for outdoors.

Smiles and Coach Bell together set a goal for Smiles to win the 400 hurdles at the Atlantic 10 Conference Championships.

If he were to accomplish that, Smiles would join freshman jumper and sprinter Brittney Cloudy as the program’s only conference champions.