Aaron Davis, sophomore on Oakland’s track and field team, has shined in his second year and proves that he and the program have a bright future.

The 5’7” Detroit native is having himself a standout season. He has won five consecutive 60m titles and was named the Horizon League Runner of the Week for the week of Feb. 17-23. Davis became one of only five Horizon League runners this season to break the seven second mark in the 60m when he recorded a 6.92 time at the Hillsdale Tune-Up on Feb. 21. Davis also runs in the 200m for the indoor track season, and will be running in the 100m and 200m for the outdoor track season.

With seven top ten finishes over the course of his freshman season, Davis had a solid rookie campaign, but has gotten off to an even hotter start this year. He says the biggest difference from last year to this year is the way he prepares for practices and meets.

“This year I zone in and focus a lot of my energy at practice so I can be relaxed at the meets,” Davis said. “When I get to the meets I think to myself, ‘I got this’ and know that I’ve worked harder than most of the runners here. I’ve learned to be confident at practice so I won’t be nervous at the meets.”

Another way he gets ready for his meets is through an unusual pre-race ritual.

“The night before every race, I have to have a can of pears,” Davis laughed. “As we pull up to the site for the meet, I also say a quick prayer for my teammates and I to give us confidence and for God to give us the strength to show everyone how hard we have been working.”

Paul Rice, head coach for Oakland’s track and field team, has been very impressed by Davis’ standout sophomore season. He said that he is a strong leader for the program and is a very coachable athlete, which he believes is a testament to what happens when athletes trust the system their coaches set out for them.

“Aaron has improved a lot from last year and when other athletes see that they start to notice the work he has put in, which carries over to the whole team,” Rice said. “He’s the complete package and he’s great for the program.”

The indoor track season concluded this past weekend as Oakland traveled to Youngstown State for the Horizon League Championships. Davis came in third in the 200m with a time of 21.91 and fourth in the 60m with a time of 7.00. The outdoor track season begins on March 25 in Raleigh, North Carolina where the team will compete in the Raleigh Relays.